LTAD Reflective Planning

Reverse-engineer your environment — from vision to action

Collaborate Sports

01 Vision

02 Audit

03 Gaps

04 Barriers

05 Actions

Stage 01

Define the Destination

Start with the end in mind. Before auditing your environment, be clear on what success looks like — this anchors every decision that follows.

Short-term success (12 months)

What does success look like in 12 months?

Consider: adherence, athlete wellbeing, coach education, culture shift, physical development markers, competition outcomes

Long-term vision (3–5 years)

What does the programme look like when it is truly working?

Consider: LTAD legacy, culture durability, athlete retention through key PHV stages, pathway coherence

Stakeholder success

Whose buy-in is essential — and what does success look like for each of them?

Different stakeholders need different wins: head coaches, management, parents, medical staff, athletes

Stage 02

Current State Audit

Honest assessment of where you are right now. Be specific — vague answers produce vague actions.

Ecosystem & Alignment

Is there a supportive environment for LTAD?

Management attitude, peer culture, existing legacy, positive or negative LTAD perception in your setting

Does alignment exist across staff and leadership?

Where does it hold? Where does it break down — at what level, and between whom?

Maturation Awareness

Can you currently track growth and maturation status?

Systems in place, staff knowledge of G&M, data collection consistency, bio-banding or G&M-informed grouping

Are training decisions currently informed by maturation status?

Loading decisions, selection policy, relative age effects, circa-PHV programming adjustments

Are there recurring injury patterns?

Apophyseal injuries, stress responses, overuse — at what PHV stage, in which sports or positions

Resources

What do you have available to work with?

Access to athletes (hrs/week), equipment, space, budget, staff:athlete ratios — be specific with numbers

Coaching Capability

What is the current knowledge and skill level of your coaching group?

S&C competency, LTAD and G&M understanding, soft skills, communication with athletes and parents, CPD access

Stakeholder Buy-in (current)

What is the current level of buy-in across your key stakeholders?

Who is aligned, who is resistant, who is neutral — and what is driving each position?

Stage 03

Gap Analysis

Rate your current state and target in each domain (1 = very poor, 5 = excellent). The gap drives prioritisation in Stage 05.

Stage 04

Barrier Identification

Listed by priority order from your gap scores. For each domain, name what is blocking progress and categorise the barrier type.

Stage 05

Action Plan

Prioritised by gap size. Define the specific action, owner, and timeline. Flag quick wins — early visible progress builds momentum and earns stakeholder trust.

Step 1 of 5