Sports News
Representat Sports and Sports Excellence
Sports Excellence: The LTAD Model
How do we know what to do in the gym?
The Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model is a framework for developing athletes in different sports based on their age, development and ability levels. The LTAD model provides guidelines for coaches and parents to optimise athletes' physical, emotional and social development while also improving performance.
| The LTAD model has seven stages, each with a unique focus and objectives: | |
|---|---|
| Active Start | 0–6 years |
| FUNdamentals | Girls 6–8 and boys 6–9 |
| Learn to Train | Girls 8–11 and boys 9–12 |
| Train to Train | Girls 11–15 and boys 12–16 |
| Train to Compete | Girls 15–21 and boys 16–23 |
| Train to Win | Girls 18+ and boys 19+ |
| Active for Life | All ages |
The focus during the Year 5 to 8 Emerging Athlete Program sits within the Learn to Train and Train to Train stages. During these stages, athletes develop the physical, technical and tactical skills specific to their chosen sport. During this phase, we like to focus on EnterTRAINment.
'EnterTRAINment' (a mix of entertainment and training) in the gym is all about making workouts fun and engaging while still being effective. Here are some great examples:
| Gamified Workouts | |
|---|---|
| Team Challenges | Splitting people into teams for friendly competition (e.g. relay races, races against friends) |
| Battle Rope Tug-of-War | Competitive, full-body fun that helps develop full-body strength |
| Bodyweight Challenges | Timed hangs off the bar |
| Medicine Ball Throws | Used as a fun way to develop power |
By creating programs that are fun and exciting, students get to work on their strengths while having fun. In the photos below, students can be seen working on a skill called a 'scoop toss'. Students start with their back to the wall and need to throw the ball against the wall as high as they possibly can. To them, they’re just competing and throwing a ball, but to a coach, they’re working on a skill used in all sports called 'triple extension'.
Triple extension describes the simultaneous extension of three joints: the hip, knee and ankle. This movement is essential for generating maximum power and explosiveness in many sports, especially those that require jumping, throwing or sprinting.
Athletes who can effectively triple-extend their joints can generate more power and speed, translating into longer jumps and faster sprints. Overall, triple extension is a fundamental concept in many sports and is an essential component of powerful and explosive athletic movements. The medicine balls are light enough (4kg) that they can effectively throw these with great power and speed.
We’ve now got over 200 athletes in the Year 5 to 8 Emerging Athlete Program. If you would like your child to get involved or would like some more information, please feel free to reach out to me via email.
Mr Ben Furphy
Head of Athletic Development
Senior School Swimming Carnival Age Champions
Congratulations to our Senior School Swimming Carnival Age Champions for 2025, each of whom demonstrated exceptional talent and determination in the pool.
| Age Category | Name |
|---|---|
| Under 13 Boys | Owen Barnes |
| Under 13 Girls | Lauren Davenport |
| Under 14 Boys | Liam Hubble |
| Under 14 Girls | Emma Pomeroy |
| Under 15 Boys | Tommy Byrne |
| Under 15 Girls | Azia Fong-Sutton |
| Under 16 Boys | Xavier Ough |
| Under 16 Girls | Stephanie Ingram |
| Under 17 Boys | Henry Allen |
| Under 17 Girls | Charlotte McIntosh |
| Under 20 Boys | Andreas Ginis |
| Under 20 Girls | Riley Sterenberg |
Cricket Training
Students had a great time training for the Girton vs Goulburn Valley Grammar School Sports Day. It was wonderful to see their skill and enthusiasm on display. We offer our sincere thanks for the coaching and assistance provided by Mrs Annette Holmes, Mr Smalley, Mr Martin, Mr Hoyt and local cricket legend and parent helper Jason Abbott.
