Our Company Mission
To provide unique Professional Sports Coaching to local Primary School children.
We aim to follow the long-term athlete development (LTAD) model for coaching sport and therefore create positive motivational climates for learning.
We will strive to attract and maintain good business relationships: providing our service to produce 100% customer satisfaction.
L.T.A.D Model
The coaching structure we adopt at Target is based on the work of Istvan Balyi's 'long-term athlete development programme'. The model highlights the need to support participants at every level to encourage them to fulfil their potential and ultimately, remain in sport.
It provides a detailed structure for developing individuals, and outlines the key coaching principles and practices relating to the various developmental stages individuals progress through. The stages represent various chronological age ranges (male & female) and are flexible, as progression occurs when a child is developmentally ready and not because they have reached a certain age. Training, preperation & competition must always account for individual differences!
Our coaches understand that their job is to help children develop as individuals and not just as a future sport stars!!
Many countries are now showing a significant interest in LTAD as a 'tool for change'. National governing bodies, national sports agencies, local authorities and education providers like ourselves, realise the models potential and it is now beginning to directly affect:-
* the way young people are trained and coached
* the variety and balance of sporting activities offered to young people
* competition, training and recovery within sports
* coach education programmes
Key Development Areas
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TECHNICAL |
- Skill Execution
- Techniques
- Consistency & Control
- Individual & Group Practice
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Psychological |
- Learning & Exploration
- Imagination
- Confidence & Enthusiasm
- Mental & Lifestyle Skills
- Avoids Anxiety & Boredom
- Goal Setting
- Group Activities
- Responsibility
- Communication
- Stable Temperament
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Physical |
- Motor Control
- Movement Skills
- (agility, balance, coordination, speed etc)
- Strength & Power
- Multi-Skills
- Multi-Activities
- Growth & Body Changes
- Nutrition
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Social |
- Fun & Enjoyment
- Inclusion & Participation
- Safe Environment
- Parent & School Support
- Form Relationships
- Fair Play, Rules & Ethics
- Socially Responsible
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Key Development Stages
When fundamental movement skills are emphasised and developed in a systematic manner, children at the earliest stages should be:-
* more willing to try a range of sports
* more able to make a successful transition to another sport
* more likely to find at least one sport that captures their interest
* more motivated to make sport a continuing part of their lives.
"I tried various sports as a child and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I didn't realise it at the time but this gave me strong basic skills, which helped me develop as a hockey international when I started to specialise in the sport age 15"
(Jane Sixsmith, England Women's Hockey Captain).
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Fundamentals
(stage 1)
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Age 3 - 6 years
Sample a wide range of movement activities in fun, playful and creative environments.
No sport-specific specialisation. A multi-skills approach should be adopted.
Emphasis on development of basic movement skills, not formal competition.
Parent support & involvement, encouraging participation in as many differnt activities as possible.
Speed, power and endurance developed using fun games and challenges.
No periodisation and....lots of FUN!
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Fundamentals
(stage 2)
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Age 6 - 8 years
Progress & continue points in stage 1 to a more advanced level.
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Learning to Train
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Age 8 - 12 years
Introduction of basic skills & fitness to their preferred activity.
Reduction in number of sports/activities but recommend at least three.
Focus on mastery of basic sport skills through regular practice in fun-based environments, using discovery learning.
Emphasis on learning to train and practice, not on performance outcome.
Element of appropriate competition introduced (25%)
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Our Motivational Coaching Climate
Task: Variety of coaching activities, encourage players to focus on the task not the outcome. Emphasize enjoyment.
Authority: How the coach operates and communicates with the players. Encourage problem solving.
Recognition: What is rewarded? Recognise personal progress and improvement in players.
Grouping: Use of groups. Be careful when having the most skilled or least skilled players together.
Evaluation: Use of feedback. Based on improvement and effort. Allow for self-evaluation and evaluation of others.
Time: Scheduling. Allow time for practice and improvement.
