Our philosophy is that JD athletes should be exposed, train, and compete in all of the areas of runs, jumps, and throws within the sport of track and field and cross country running. Only over years of training and competing and exploring these areas do athletes truly find their passion and particular expertise in individual events.

RCTFC follows the Athletics Canada Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Model.

What is the LTAD Model?

• It is a framework for optimal training, competition and recovery schedules for each stage of an athlete’s athletic development
• It is an athlete-centered, coach-driven framework that is supported by administration, sport science, and sponsors.
• It is a research based model developed by the Canadian Sport Centre that has been adopted not only by Athletics Canada, but by Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers of Sport and Sport Organizations
• Its goal is to develop lifelong involvement in physical activity and sport, as well as helping to produce future star athletes
• It is a program designed around critical adaptation to training periods throughout an athlete’s physical and chronological development
• It is a model aimed at providing elite and consistent performers, while also seeking to provide opportunities for all children to grow into confident, healthy and active adults

Why is an LTAD Model necessary?

• The current system for Canadian athletics emphasizes winning and competing (outcome), instead of fundamental sport skill development (process)
• This outcome emphasis often leads to one-sided preparation, early burnout, lost potential, over training, and even injury
• Some of the major shortcomings in the current system that the LTAD Model specifically seeks to correct include:
• Developmental athletes over-competing, and undertraining
• Adult training and competition programs being superimposed on developing athletes
• Preparation being geared to short term outcomes (ie: winning) instead of the long term process of skill development
• Improper and/or inadequate teaching of fundamental movement skills and sport skills
• Having untrained, under qualified volunteer coaches at the developmental level where quality, trained coaches are essential
• Sport specialization occurring too early in an attempt to attract and retain participants

For further information and reading please see the LTAD resource published by Athletics Canada.