Skater Development
Skater Development
Speed Skating Canada is committed to the holistic, developmentally appropriate development of skaters and helping each individual participant achieve his or her own level of excellence. Skaters need to be exposed to be doing the right thing, in the right way at the right time in their development. Speed Skating Canada describes this development through its Long Term Participant and Athlete Development (LTPAD) model. A model which specifically adapts the principles behind the Canadian Sport for Life Movement and Long Term Athlete Development which lays a path for athlete development for all sports in Canada.
Science, research and decades of experience all point to the same thing: kids and adults will get active, stay active, and even reach the greatest heights of sport achievement if they do the right things at the right times.
SSC’s Long Term Participant and Athlete Development Model has 9 stages:
Stage 1: Active Start (0-6 years)
Stage 2: FUNdamentals (girls 6-8, boys 6-9)
Stage 3: Learning to Train (girls 8-11, boys 9-12)
Stage 4: Training to Train (girls 11-15, boys 12-16)
Stage 5: Learning to Compete (females 15-17, males 16-18)
Stage 6: Training to Compete (females 17-21, males 18-21)
Stage 7: Learning to Win (ST males & females 21-23+, LT males & females 25+)
Stage 8: Training to Win (ST males & females 23+, LT males & females 25+)
Stage 9: Active for Life (any age participant, includes coaches, officials & volunteers)
Learn more about LTPAD