Day 2

The session will discuss how Gold Medal Coaches address:

• What sources of information do you find reliable? How do you develop a sport science team?
• What are some early indicators for identifying talent?
• How much time is spent on muscle strength, muscle endurance and neuromuscular fitness? Pre season / in season / off season
• At what point in the training season, is general fitness the highest?
• How do you address illness and injury among elite athletes – what are some rules of thumb for return to play?

Jean Côté is a Canadian author who recently developed a conceptual model that incorporates the elements necessary for a developmentally sound approach to sport involvement; the Personal Assets Framework. The Personal Assets Framework includes three determinants that interact to create positive experiences in sport: 1) taking part in activities, 2) while entertaining relationships with others, 3) in a specific setting. Research that links the three basic elements of sport (activities, relationships, and settings) to positive changes in personal assets and long-term outcomes of athletes will be discussed in this presentation. Furthermore, practical implications will be offered to enhance the design of sport programs that are developmentally appropriate.