Episode 23

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Published on:

7th Dec 2021

EvelChat #23 “It’s More About Early Engagement In Great Coaching Than Specialization”: A Chat with James Baker & Tom Crick of Aspire Academy

In this podcast Derek gets schooled. It’s a deep dive into the science and practice of Long-Term Athlete Development & Preparation. In particular, we discuss the science & practice around Peak Height Velocity (PHV) and overall implementation of the LTAD principles and progressions. 

James Baker is a sport performance specialist and one of the world’s top experts in Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) and Preparation. He is the Head of National Talent Identification, Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach and Performance Support Lead for Aspire Academy in Dona, Qatar. He is also the co-founder (with Mike Young) of the LTAD Network (www.ltadnetwork.com), one of the world’s top resources in physical preparation & sport training development for youth.

Tom Crick is the Head of Athletics at Aspire Academy & former Director of Coaching & Athlete Development for Athletics Northern Ireland. Before that he was the Professional Development Manager & Qualifications Manager for British Athletics.

Topics:

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·      James’ Background

·      What is LTAD?

·      Pathways athletes take in development

·      Importance of proper long term athletic preparation

·      Technical / tactical development vs. physical development

·      Peak Height Velocity (PHV)

·      Parent height vs., predicted height and Pre / Circa / Post PHV

·      Clown shoes and the order that body segments go through PHV 

·      C onsiderations for loading around PHV

·      PHV & Apophysitis

·      Volume of work around growth spurts & PHV

·      Natural Volume Experiments at Aspire

·      Criticism / efficacy around using PHV

·      James’ data around pre / circa / post PHV

·      PHV, Bioband and early / late maturers

·      Practicality around tracking PHV

·      Average Post-PHV age and the start of formal training

·      Keeping Late maturers within the net

·      Basic strength diagnostics and patterns for beginners

·      Producing ‘elite athletes’ vs. any other athlete

·      Organization for coaching developing athletes

·      Why the pressure to succeed demands more competent coaching practice

·      Why ‘Specialization’ is not a dirty word

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About the Podcast

EvelChat
The EveltrakSport.com Coaching Podcast with Derek Evely
A Podcast about Coaching, from specialist turn-ons to general piss-offs… & everything in between.

About your host

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Derek Evely

Derek Evely has taken a career path unique in Olympic sport. As an athletics coach, he has coached professionally at all levels along the developmental continuum and is widely regarded as a foremost expert in both youth development programming and elite training methodology. As a coach he has produced three World Junior Championship medalists, two of whom went on to win Olympic medals. He was the development coach for Gary Reed (IAAF World Championships 800m Silver Medalist), Dylan Armstrong (Beijing Olympic Shot Put Bronze Medalist) and Sophie Hitchon (2016 Olympic Hammer Throw Bronze Medalist). He has been a national team coach for both Britain and Canada to every major championship on the global calendar including the Olympic Games, IAAF World Championships and European Championships. He was a High Performance Training Centre Director for British Athletics leading into the 2012 Olympic Games where he coached the youngest athlete on the British athletics team (Hitchon) to her first Olympic final. From 2005 to 2009 he was the Sport Science Manager for the Canadian Athletics Coaching Center. He consults and coaches with federations and individuals worldwide on all aspects of developmental and high performance programming. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and three teenagers.