It is incumbent on all youth coaches to provide youth with the very best opportunities to succeed and develop to the best of their potential. The 10 pillars of long-term athletic development and recommendations provide coaches with the information they need to help all youth reach their potential.

Examine the scientific rationale underpinning the 10 pillars of long-term athletic development proposed in the recently published NSCA position statement. In this session from the NSCA’s 2016 National Conference, Rhodri Lloyd demonstrate how the scientific principles surrounding the 10 pillars of long-term athletic development can be applied by coaches in a practical setting.

Dr. Greg Haff, President of the NSCA, sits down to discuss the NSCA's position statement on Long-Term Athletic Development.

The official position statement of the NSCA on long-term athletic development.

Learn about the 10 pillars of successful long-term athletic development, summarizing the key recommendations detailed within the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) Position Statement on Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD).

Given the growing interest surrounding youth strength and conditioning, the NSCA recently engaged a group of leading experts to author a position statement on long-term athletic development. The document proposes ten key pillars of successful long-term athletic development that practitioners should adhere to in order to enhance performance, promote health and well-being, and minimize the risk of sport- or physical activity-related injury.

In this video from the NSCA's 2013 National Conference, Dr. Rhodri Lloyd, Senior Lecturer in Physiology and Health at Cardiff Metropolitan University, talks about planning for long-term athletic development.

In recent years, youth strength training and models of athletic development have become hot topics thanks in part to a shift in youth sports from leisure activities to year-round commitments. In order for strength and conditioning professionals to help the athletes of tomorrow achieve their performance and fitness goals, it’s imperative to develop safe, effective, and balanced programming for the youth of today.

Colorado Springs, CO - The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recently released a position statement in reference to the growing interest in long-term athletic development for youth.

This article describes the long-term athletic development programming pillars and suggests practical applications for strength and conditioning practitioners.