Implementing Long-Term Athletic Development Within K–12 Physical Education

Abstract

Many adolescents lack the requisite physical preparation for sport participation and PA. Multi-sport participation and resistance training during youth (age 5-11) and adolescence (age 12-17) years can positively effect physical activity levels, health outcomes, and promote long-term athletic development (LTAD). The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) created a position statement regarding LTAD. K-12 schools provide an ideal environment to deliver LTAD programs. Limited literature exists regarding how best to implement LTAD within K-12 physical education. The purpose of this paper is to provide physical educators with strategies to implement LTAD within K-12 programming. In this paper, we have described how specific curriculum models are aligned with LTAD and can support developmentally appropriate progression of PE content across instructional levels. Implementation of LTAD programs within PE utilize standards based curriculum design to create multi-curricular offerings that include resistance training.