This document discusses athlete development in athletics according to the IAAF stages of development. It outlines the optimal ages for peak performance in different athletics events, showing that athletics is generally a late development sport. The IAAF identifies 6 stages of athlete development from movement awakening to exercise for life. Stages 1-5 are described in more detail, outlining the optimal biological ages, focus of training, and potential for periodized planning at each stage. The importance of considering an athlete's chronological, biological, developmental, and training ages is emphasized.

1. IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Athlete Development
IAAF CECS Level III

2. 2
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Athletics as a Late Development Sport
Average Age of Top 10 in the world
Event
Age of peak performance
Men
Age of peak performance
Women
100m
200m
1500m
5000m
Marathon
TJ
Discus
Hammer
26
25
27
29
31
25
25
28
25
25
29
30
33
28
25
*
Ages for Peak Performance in Athletics from World Statistics
* insufficient data analysed

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
IAAF Stages of Athlete Development
Stage Name of Stage Optimal Biological Age
Stage 0 Movement awakening 0 - 5/7
Stage 1 Kids’Athletics 5/7 - 11/12
Stage 2 Multi-Events 11/12 - 13/14
Stage 3 Event Group Development 14/15 - 16/17
Stage 4 Specialisation 16/17 - 18/19
Stage 5 Performance 18/19 +
Stage 6 Exercise for life

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Stages of Athlete Development
Stage 1
Kids’ Athletics
Stage 2
Multi-Events
Stage 3
Event Group
Development
Stage 4
Specialisation
Stage 5
Performance
Training Age
(years)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 +
Optimum
Biological Age
6-9 8-11 10-13 12-14 13-15 14-16 15-17 16-18 17-19 18-20+

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
How the Body Grows
Three Youth athletes – all 14 years of age
Photo: I. Balyi, LTAD Implications for coaches and parents, NCTC Coaching Conference, UK 2005

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Early and Late Developers - Boys
5
Peak Height Velocities
PHV
for 3 Boys
PHV
Early Developer
PHV
Av. Developer
PHV
Late Developer
4 years difference in
physical development

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Early and Late Developers – Girls
5
Peak Height Velocities
PHV
for 3 Girls
PHV
Early Developer
PHV
Av. Developer
PHV
Late Developer
4 years difference in
physical development

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Four ‘Ages’
• Chronological Age:
The number of days, months and years that have
elapsed since birth
• Biological Age:
The individual’s stage of development in relation to
physical maturity - children within the same
chronological age banding can differ by several years in
their level of biological maturation
• Developmental Age:
The complex interaction between physical, emotional,
psychological and social development
• Training Age:
The number of years that an individual has been in
specific training for any related sport.

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Matrix of Maturation
Chronological Age 12
Physical Development (Biological Age) 10 11 12 13 14
Cognitive Development 10 11 12 13 14
Socio/Emotional Development 10 11 12 13 14
After: L. Sanderson, IAAF New Studies in Athletics 3, 2003
Matrix of maturation for a hypothetical 12 year-old
Combine together to give:
Developmental Age

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Training Age
- a concept not a mathematical formula
Years in school PE 7
Years training for sports 6
Years training in athletics-related sports 4
Years training in athletics 2
Estimated Training Age for Athletics 5
Example: estimating the Training Age for a 12 year-old

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Windows of Developmental Opportunity
in the Young Athlete - Girls

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Windows of Developmental Opportunity
in the Young Athlete - Boys

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Development of the Nervous System
• The key to speed, strength
and power
• Kids’ Athletics:
Promoted through 0-5s multi-
directional, high speed
movement and other physical
literacy activities
• Myelination:
The formation of the Myelin
Sheath which insulates a
nerve axon and causes faster
nerve-signal conduction is
developmental - normally
complete by biological age 12.

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Metabolic Trainability
• Prior to puberty, children have a less-developed ability to
support anaerobic metabolism
• Testosterone associated with a change in the athletes
metabolic profile
– Increase in the number of red blood cells available
– Increase in mitochondrial enzymes
– Opportunity to begin serious training to maximise
aerobic capacity and power
• Consideration now needs to be given to the training
structure in relation to event specific requirements
• Need to think about the athlete’s muscle fibre profile.

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Stage 1 - Kids’ Athletics Stage
• ABCs
– Agility, Balance,
Coordination and Speed
• ABCs of Athletics
– Fundamentals of Running,
Jumping and Throwing
• KGBs
– Kinaesthetics, Gliding,
Buoyancy and Striking
• CKS
– Catching, Kicking and
Striking
Optimal Biological Age
7 – 11
No Periodisation
Physical Literacy = ABCs + Athletics ABCs + KGBs + CKS.

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
• Key physical skills - motor
learning - opportunity
• Refine physical literacy.
Stage 2 - The Multi-Events Stage
Optimal Biological Age
11 – 13
Single Periodisation

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Stage 3 – The Event Group
Development Stage
• Double periodisation is possible
for the first time
• But the longer the athlete is
training in a single periodised
plan the better the long term
development.
Optimal Biological Age
13 – 15
Single or Double
Periodisation

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Stage 4 - The Specialisation Stage
• learn how to compete
– under any kind of
circumstance
• modelling competition
• beginning of individualised
programmes.
Optimal Biological Age
15 – 18
Single or Double
Periodisation

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Stage 5 - The Performance Stage
• performance training
• high intensity and
frequency of training with planned
breaks
• full individualisation of training,
competition, taper, regeneration and
mental preparation.
Optimal Biological Age
18 +
Single, Double or
Multiple Periodisation

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Chronological Age:
6 - 9 9 - 12 12 - 15 15 - 17 17 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 +
       
Maturation: EARLY AVERAGE LATE
  

Basic Skills: * NO YES
 
Training Age: < 2 2 - 4 5 - 9 10 +
 
Estimated
Biological Age:
6 - 9 9 - 12 12 - 15 15 - 17 17 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 +

     

Potential for
Periodised
Annual Plan: **
NO
PERIODISATION
SINGLE
PERIODISATION
SINGLE/DOUBLE
PERIODISATION
SINGLE/DOUBLE/MULTIPLE
PERIODISATION
 
 
* The basic skills of ABC’s + ABC’s of Athletics + KGB’s + CKS = Physical Literacy
** Although there may be the potential for a double or multiple periodised annual plan, there will be additional factors which impact on this choice.
AD stages: Kids’ Athletics
Event Group Development
(Training Ages 5-7)
Specialisation
(Training Ages 8-9)
Performance
Multi-Events
Thompson, P.J.L. 2002, 2005, 2007
 Tick the appropriate boxes – start at the top level and work down, ticking only one box at each level

Determining the AD stage and structure of the annual plan
Focus for the
Level III Coach


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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Athlete Development
- and the place of competition
Stage 1
Kids’ Athletics
Stage 2
Multi-Events
Stage 3
Event Group
Development
Stage 4
Specialisation
Stage 5
Performance
Training Age
(years)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 +
The place of
Competition
Competition at any time of the year - training is
structured for long term development, not ‘peaking’
for many competitions
Competition
begins to
shape training
structure
Competition is
significant, but
not the ONLY,
influence on
training
structure
Stages
of the
Athlete
Development
Pathway

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Athlete Development Principles
• It requires 8 and 12 years of extensive practice to excel at
anything
• Young athletes are not miniature adults
• Pushing athlete development too quickly and rushing
competition can result in:
– injury
– burn-out
– shortcomings in the athlete’s physical, technical, tactical
and mental abilities
• Athletics is a ‘late specialisation sport’ where event
specialisation is not advocated before age 15-16
• The IAAF Athlete Development provides each athlete with
the appropriate training, competition and recovery schedules
to ensure the optimum development of their genetic talent.

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IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Thank you for your attention and
contributions