The seven-stage Canadian model for Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) is an overview of a training, competition, and recovery program based on developmental age - the maturation level of an individual - rather than chronological age. It is athlete centred, coach driven, and administration, sport science, and sponsor supported. Athletes who progress through LTAD experience training and competition programs that consider their biological and training ages in creating periodized plans specific to their development needs.

The first 4 stages, with their respective approximate age ranges, are generally appropriate for all late–specialization sports. In the Training to Compete and Training to Win stages, age ranges vary
from sport to sport. LTAD focuses on the general framework of athlete development with special reference to growth, maturation, and development. LT AD is a framework for full sport system alignment in Canada,
integrating health and education with sport and physical activity.

Canadian Sport for Life: LTAD Resource Paper (2005) Canadian Sport Centre Pacific would like to acknowledge CSC Pacific experts Richard Way and Istvan Balyi for their contributions to the  LTAD published in 2005.

• Long-Term Athlete Development Resource Paper V2 - Canadian Sport for Life
• Long-Term Athlete Development - Canadian Sport for Life Poster
• Long-Term Athlete Development Athletes with A Disability: No Accidental Champions
• Physical Literacy Concept Paper: Ages 0 – 12 Yrs
• Developing Physical Literacy: A Guide for Parents of Children Ages 0 to 12
• CS4L Resource Order Form

“First our children need an active start to develop movement and sport skills so they are physically literate. Then they can strive for excellence and or be active for life.”
- Richard Way MBA, www.canadiansportforlife.ca