The Kids that TRI Developmental Pathway for Young Athletes

It is the top priority of the Kids that TRI organization and coaching staff to develop young athletes safely without risking injury, overtraining or burnout.  The organization adopts the model that promotes multilateral development throughout the younger years and moves toward specialized training as young athletes progress chronologically and developmentally.  We will not rush developmental capabilities in youth nor will we focus heavily on winning at all costs.  Our team members experience great success both in sport and life because they are well-rounded physically and cognitively.

Kids that TRI subscribes to the "ABCs" of athletic development which includes Agility, Balance, Coordination and Speed.  While chronological age cannot always be used to properly identify a young person's developmental abilities and biological age, it is a good marker to begin proper evaluation.  Once youth are evaluated by the Kids that TRI coaches, they are placed in the proper developmental age category that aligns with their biological age.  Sometimes this may match their chronological age and sometimes it may not.

Additionally, Kids that TRI acknowledges "training age" and "sport training age" in the proper development of youth.  Training age refers to the amount of years a young athlete has participated in organized sport while sport training age refers to the amount of years a young athlete has participated in one specific sport.  Some young athletes will present with different skill sets based on these age classifications.

Kids that TRI Developmental Pathway for ages 5-12

Goal: FUNdamental physical and cognitive learning and maturation

Providing fundamental physical and cognitive learning opportunities for children at young ages is a very important part of proper development.  These fundamentals are best learned under the age of 12 and with successful progression, youth will improve their physical awareness and cognitive functioning including better agility, balance, coordination as well as improving their self-confidence and emotional well-being.  Kids that TRI provides the building blocks for youth to participate in lifelong physical activity through the development of the entire young person.

During these stages, Kids that TRI coaches promote participating in other sports and activities that will aid in a young person's overall physical, cognitive and social development and we encourage families to engage in a health lifestyle to model the way.

Stages:

FUNdamental Play, ages 5-7

• This stage includes teaching methods and activities to improve agility, balance, flexibility, proprioception and coordination through planned models of play through social interactions with coaches and team members. Cognitive and decision making skills are important components of practice sessions.

FUNdamental Skill Development, ages 8-10

• This stage includes teaching methods and activities to improve agility, balance, flexibility, proprioception, coordination and speed through planned skill learning opportunities.  These will be introduced slowly until skill mastery is obtained through properly supervised repetition.  Cognitive and decision making skills continue to be included and will progress at an appropriate speed.

FUNdamental Skill Refinement, ages 11-12

• This stage includes teaching methods and activities to improve agility, balance, flexibility, proprioception, coordination, strength, speed and social skills through more advanced skill learning and social activities. Advanced skill sets are taught with the progression of slow to fast movement patterns.  More cognitive and decision making skills are implemented.

Teens that TRI is a sub-program within the Kids that TRI organization specifically targeted to youth 13 years of age and older.  During these pre-puberty, puberty and post-puberty times, there are significant differences in physical, psychological and emotional development and we recognize this by introducing age appropriate physical and cognitive learning opportunities.  Additionally, as youth progress through this program, more specialization training will be introduced.

Triathlon is a late specialization sport so early multilateral development is necessary before entering the Teens that TRI program.  Multilateral development is a large component in this program; however, specialization training will be gradually introduced as youth develop physically, psychologically and emotionally.  

Developmental Pathway for ages 13-19

Stages:

Skill and Training Development, ages 13-15

• This stage includes teaching methods and activities to improve agility, balance, coordination, strength, speed and social, decision making and leadership skills in a supportive environment that embraces physiological and psychological training methods.
• In some triathlon competitions, draft-legal racing opportunities are available beginning at the age of 13 thus advanced skills to teach youth these skill sets will be taught.

Skill and Training Refinement for Competition, ages 16-19

• This stage includes teaching methods and activities to improve agility, balance, coordination, strength, speed, and social, decision making and leadership skills in a supportive environment with the emphasis on advanced physiological and psychological training methods.