1. Building a Successful Age
Group Program from 8-14
• Tom Himes, David Orr, Steve Friederang,
Rod Havriluk & John Heil
• Feature Panel
• Wednesday, August 28, 2019
• Clearwater Beach, FL

2. Coaches and sport scientists come together
to examine the challenges and identify
solutions for working successfully with
athletes aged 8-14, considering the practical
aspects of day-to-day training, team
management, and the science associated
with developing the athlete from childhood
through the transition to puberty

3. Psychological POV
Athlete Development
John Heil
Coach the Child; Manage the Parent:
The Parent-Athlete Dyad & Team Culture
Riding the Wave into Puberty:
Cultivating Long Term Athlete Development

4. Child-Parent (2-fer)
Parent as Primary Client -- $$ POV
Parent as Ally
Athlete-Parent Program
• Deal with Situations Proactively vs
Reactively – Regular Meetings
• Parent Committee – Self-Policing;
Problem Solving

5. Athlete Development
• Smooth & Steady 8 onward then…
Pervasive Developmental Change
• Body – Mind -- Spirit
• Athlete Performance & Personal Identity

6. Pubescent Athlete as
MOVING TARGET

7. Psychological Challenges
Biology Leads-Psychology Follows
Girls to women first, then boys to men
Early Maturing
• Surge Forward – Fall Back
Late Maturing
• Fall Back - Surge Forward

8. Psychological Challenges
Scent of Gasoline & Perfume
Identity Transformation
Competing Interests
Retention
• Enjoyment-Engagement
• Sport-Life Balance

9. SUMMARY
• Age 8-14 as Launching Pad
• Pubescent Athlete as Moving Target
• Coach to Uneven Course of Physical Development
• Cultivate Athlete Identity
• Parent as Ally