National Strength and Conditioning Association Position Statement on Long-Term Athletic Development

Methodology

Position stand

Population

All children and adolescents, described as having unique physical, psychological and social characteristics; both athletic and non-athletic youth

Intervention

Long-term athletic development (LTAD) pathways: appropriately prescribed, individualised, holistic and child-centred exercise programmes including resistance training, motor skill and physical literacy development

Findings

All youth should be viewed as 'athletes' and afforded opportunities to enhance athleticism in an individualised, holistic and child-centred manner; appropriately prescribed exercise programmes promote physical development, prevent injury and build fitness behaviours retained into later life. Early one-sport specialisation is explicitly rejected as a default model.

Outcome measures

Physical development, athleticism, physical literacy, injury prevention, lifelong physical activity behaviours

Limitations

Consensus position statement without systematic review methodology or formal evidence grading; recommendations are principle-based rather than dose-specific; no risk-of-bias assessment.

Original source

DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001387 · PMID: 26933920