LTAD has almost become a cliché. Everyone has an LTAD program and they all look the same. How can that be? Because the models assume a linear march to the top of the athletic achievement pyramid. In reality it is a very chaotic process at best, full of detours, false starts and redirection. On this week’s episode we look at rethinking long-term athlete development with some practical examples from yesteryear and the present.
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In the last few years Ryan Crouser has cemented himself as the top shot putter in the history of the sport. Behind the scenes along the way has been his father, helping him from his first throw to his world record. On this week’s episode Mitch Crouser joins us to discuss his own throwing career, the long-term development plan he put in place for Ryan, how they developed their technical model, and what the future holds for the both of them.
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It is common to hear coaches say we need to fit the plan to the athlete, rather than the athlete to the plan. But how exactly do we do that? On this week’s podcast we focus on individualization, when coaches need to start doing it, what should be individualized, and different ways to put the concept into practice. Plus, Nick and Martin start off the episodes with an analysis of the state of American throwing. Read more
The US Championships kick off on Thursday and a change in venue from Eugene to Sacramento means more sun and less rain. Temperatures are expected to reach over 100 degrees, meaning the weather may be as hot as the action. With two Americans chasing the world record in the shot put and close competitions for the World Championships team in every event, it should be an exciting weekend of throwing. Below we break down each men’s event. Check back tomorrow for a look at the women’s action. Read more
With the Olympics behind us, Nick and I take a look back at Rio to highlight our favorite moments, the best performances, the worst performances, and more. Read more
