Download and review the full 88 page Softball Canada Long Term Player Development Guide for Softball in Canada!

This Parent Guide is a brief overview of what is covered in detail within the Long-Term Player Development Guide for Softball in Canada document. Softball Canada realizes the vital role that parents play in many aspects of a child’s development and realizes the huge commitment you make as a parent of a softball athlete through both your time and your financial support.

A brief outline of each of the stages of Long Term Player Development and their objectives, physical development, technical development, mental development, season structure, and recommendations.

An easy to read chart developed from Softball Canada's "Long-Term Player Development Guide for Softball in Canada" recommended compeition formats for all ages groups.

An easy to read chart developed from Softball Canada's "Long-Term Player Development Guide for Softball in Canada" recommended playing time and number of positions played at each age level.

An easy to read chart developed from Softball Canada's "Long-Term Player Development Guide for Softball in Canada" recommended ratios for practices to games for all ages groups.

Simply put, periodization — designing a yearly plan — is time management. It provides a detailed plan for arranging the complex array of training factors into a logical and scientifically-based schedule to produce optimal improvements in performance. It means planning the right activities with an adequate degree of difficulty and in the right sequence to reach the coach’s training and competition objectives for each player and the team.

Periodization is an essential component in optimal sports programming and player development at all levels. Planning adequately for training, competition, and recovery is the critical blueprint for success.

The goal of this booklet is to help you understand the needs of young athletes and what may be done to promote their best interests in staying active and healthy. In these pages you will read about Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), a model for development in physical activity and sport that not only provides a safe, enjoyable, and progressive pathway for children to pursue healthy physical activity, but also provides a pathway to excellence.