Part 1: Comparing & Contrasting Athlete Development Across Nations

This article is the first in a three part series evaluating the way that various nations develop athletes in order to explore what future best practice models might look like.

Athlete development models vary significantly across countries and sports, but the most effective systems share certain best practices. These practices are grounded in long-term athlete development (LTAD) principles, talent identification and nurturing, holistic approaches that consider both physical and psychological factors, and structured pathways from grassroots to elite levels. Below are some of the best practices identified in athletic development worldwide, with real-world examples from specific sports in various countries.

Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Models

Canada's LTAD Model

Sport(s): Ice Hockey (Hockey Canada), Basketball (Basketball Canada), Soccer

Description: Canada’s LTAD model is one of the most well-known and widely adopted frameworks. Hockey Canada emphasizes development stages that align with athletes' growth and maturation, ensuring that training and competition are appropriate to their development stage. The LTAD stages include Active Start, FUNdamentals, Learn to Train, Train to Train, Train to Compete, Train to Win, and Active for Life.

Success: This model has produced consistently high-performing athletes in ice hockey, contributing to Canada's dominant presence in the sport.

Research Support: Research shows that the LTAD model is effective because it aligns with the physical and psychological growth stages of athletes, preventing burnout and overuse injuries while promoting lifelong engagement in sport (Balyi, Way, & Higgs, 2013).

Early and Broad Talent Identification

Norwegian Youth Sports Model

Sport: Cross-Country Skiing

Description: Norway’s approach to athlete development emphasizes late specialization, with a broad-based sports participation model that encourages children to engage in multiple sports. The Norwegian model focuses on inclusivity, enjoyment, and long-term involvement, which has proven successful in identifying and nurturing talent in cross-country skiing and other sports.

Success: Norway consistently produces top-performing athletes in cross-country skiing, with multiple Olympic and World Championship medals.

Research Support: Early and broad talent identification followed by gradual specialization has been found to reduce dropout rates and increase the likelihood of long-term elite success (Gullich & Emrich, 2014).

Holistic Development and Athlete Well-Being

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)

Sport: Swimming

Description: The AIS provides a holistic development approach that includes not just physical training but also mental health support, education, and career planning for athletes. The AIS model has been instrumental in Australia’s success in swimming, where athletes are prepared for both sporting success and life after sports.

Success: Australia has been a powerhouse in swimming for decades, with multiple Olympic champions emerging from the AIS system.

Research Support: Holistic approaches to athlete development that consider mental health and well-being alongside physical training are linked to better performance outcomes and athlete longevity (Reardon & Factor, 2010).

Structured Pathways and Integrated Support Systems

UK Sport’s World Class Performance Programme

Sport: Track and Field (Athletics)

Description: UK Sport’s World Class Performance Programme provides a structured pathway from talent identification to elite performance. This system integrates support services, including coaching, sports science, medicine, and psychology, to optimize athlete development.

Success: The program contributed to the UK's significant success in athletics during the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, with athletes like Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill achieving international success.

Research Support: Structured and well-supported athlete pathways that integrate multiple disciplines (coaching, sports science, psychology) are essential for developing high-performing athletes (Bailey, Collins, Ford, MacNamara, Toms, & Pearce, 2010).

Community and School-Based Development Models

Japan’s Judo Development System

Sport: Judo

Description: Japan’s judo development system is deeply rooted in schools and communities, where judo is taught as part of the curriculum. This ensures that a broad base of young athletes is exposed to the sport, with talent being identified and nurtured through a structured school and club system.

Success: Japan remains a global leader in judo, consistently winning medals at World Championships and Olympic Games.

Research Support: School-based sport programs are effective in identifying talent early and providing a broad base for future elite development (Bailey & Morley, 2006).

Conclusion

These best practices in athletic development models are supported by research and have been proven effective across various sports and countries. The common elements include a focus on long-term development, holistic athlete care, structured pathways, and a strong community or school-based foundation. These practices help to ensure that athletes not only reach their potential but also sustain their involvement in sport over the long term.

Sources

1. Balyi, I., Way, R., & Higgs, C. (2013). Long-Term Athlete Development. Human Kinetics.

2. Gullich, A., & Emrich, E. (2014). Considering long-term sustainability in the development of world-class success. European Journal of Sport Science, 14(1), 383-397.

3. Reardon, C. L., & Factor, R. M. (2010). Sport psychiatry: A systematic review of diagnosis and medical treatment of mental illness in athletes. Sports Medicine, 40(11), 961-980.

4. Bailey, R., Collins, D., Ford, P., MacNamara, á., Toms, M., & Pearce, G. (2010). Participant development in sport: An academic review. Sports Coach UK.

5. Bailey, R., & Morley, D. (2006). Towards a model of talent development in physical education. Sport, Education and Society, 11(3), 211-230.