What is the Learn to Train stage?

Learn to Train is for boys from about 9 and girls from about 8, to the onset of the adolescent growth spurt. The framework describes it as a time when the brain and body are primed for skill acquisition, and it continues the development of physical literacy.

Key points:

• Build fundamental skills in a wide range of sports and activities (on the ground, in water, in the air and on ice/snow) before entering Train to Train.
• Avoid early over-specialization.
• Make sure the environment promotes and supports fun and friendship.
• Take into account individual variations in physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional and moral development.
• Introduce warm-up/cool-down, nutrition, hydration, recovery including sleep, and mental preparation such as anxiety control.
• Introduce formal local competition with an emphasis on fair play and opportunities to try different events or positions.
• Sport-specific training about three times per week plus participation in other sports or activities three times a week.

Source: Sport for Life, Long-Term Development in Sport and Physical Activity 3.0 (2019): https://sportforlife.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Long-Term-Development-in-Sport-and-Physical-Activity-3.0.pdf