Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD)
Building a Lifelong Path to Excellence
The Alberta Taekwondo Association (ATA) fully endorses and promotes Taekwondo Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) program. This comprehensive framework ensures athletes and participants of all ages can achieve their potential while staying active and engaged throughout their lives.
What is LTAD?
LTAD is a scientifically designed model that emphasizes the importance of engaging in the right activities at the right time. By aligning with developmental stages, LTAD ensures:
-Enhanced athlete retention through fun and appropriate challenges.
-Pathways to excellence for those pursuing high-performance sport.
Lifelong participation in recreational or competitive Taekwondo.
Stages of LTAD
The LTAD model outlines eight key stages that support athletes from early development to lifelong participation
Active Start (0–6 years)
Foundation of fun and movement through structured activities.
FUNdamentals (Girls 6–8, Boys 6–9)
Developing motor skills and basic Taekwondo movements.
Learn to Train (Girls 8–11, Boys 9–12)
Refining fundamental skills and introducing sport-specific strategies.
Train to Train (Girls 11–15, Boys 12–16)
Skill specialization and structured training for competition.
Train to Compete (Girls 15–21, Boys 16–23)
Building advanced skills, mental resilience, and tactical excellence.
Learn to Win (Girls 17–19, Boys 18–21)
Transitioning from national to international-level competition.
Train to Win (Girls 19+, Boys 21+)
Achieving peak performance at the highest competitive levels.
Active for Life (Any Age)
Encouraging lifelong participation in Taekwondo for health and recreation.
Ten Key Factors of LTAD
The LTAD model is guided by ten principles essential for athlete development:
✔ Physical Literacy: Fundamental movement skills.
✔ Specialization: Late specialization for balanced development.
✔ Developmental Age: Tailored training based on individual growth and maturity.
✔ Sensitive Periods: Leveraging optimal times for skill and fitness training.
✔ Mental, Cognitive, and Emotional Development: Supporting holistic growth.
✔ Periodization: Structuring training cycles for sustained progress.
✔ Competition: Aligning events with developmental needs.
✔ Excellence Takes Time: Encouraging long-term commitment.
✔ System Alignment and Integration: Collaboration across the sport system.
✔ Continuous Improvement (Kaizen): Ensuring constant evolution in sport and training methodologies.
Two Streams of LTAD
The LTAD framework supports two primary pathways for participants
Performance Stream:
Focused on developing athletes for high-level competition, including international events and Olympic aspirations.
Recreational Stream:
Encourages lifelong engagement in Taekwondo as a sport or martial art for health, enjoyment, and personal development.
Why Choose LTAD?
The LTAD model ensures:
✔ Tailored programs for participants of all ages and abilities.
✔ Safer, more enjoyable competition environments.
✔ Sustainable participation for long-term physical and mental well-being.
✔ A unified system supporting both recreational and high-performance athletes.
The ATA is proud to align with Taekwondo Canada in delivering this world-class athlete development model.
The Alberta Taekwondo Association is the official governing body and provides the organizational structure for the sport of WT Taekwondo in the Province of Alberta.
Copyright © Taekwondo Alberta Association. All Rights Reserved.