If you read the literature, you will find that Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) models in Football are structured frameworks designed to guide the development of athletes from early childhood through to elite performance.
These models emphasize a holistic approach to athlete development, ensuring that all physical, mental, and emotional aspects are nurtured throughout the athlete’s career. 

“(…) the focus on the performance factor at younger ages has become both a virus and disease in our culture – the winning-at-all-cost culture!”

There are some key aspects of LTAD models in football, as:

1. Stages of Development:
   • Fundamental Movement Skills: Focuses on developing basic motor skills in early childhood (typically ages 6-9). This stage emphasizes fun and participation rather than competitive play.
   • Fundamentals of Sport: Athletes aged 8-12 learn fundamental football skills, including dribbling, passing, and shooting, within a fun, game-based context.
   • Learning to Train: Aimed at athletes aged 10-14, this stage emphasizes refining technical skills, introducing tactical concepts, and fostering a love for the game.
   • Training to Train: For ages 12-16, the focus shifts to more specific training, including physical conditioning, tactical awareness, and competitive play.
   • Training to Compete: Athletes aged 15-19 begin to specialize in their positions and focus on competition preparation.
   • Training to Win: This stage involves preparing athletes for elite competition, with a focus on peak performance and mental resilience.
   • Retirement and Transition: Addresses the transition out of competitive sport, including pathways for continued involvement in football, coaching, or other related careers.
2. Physical and Mental Development:
   LTAD models emphasize not only physical skills but also mental attributes, such as decision-making, resilience, and teamwork. Psychological development is integrated throughout all stages.
3. Individualization:
   Recognizing that each athlete develops at their own pace, LTAD models advocate for individualized training programs tailored to the needs, strengths, and weaknesses of each player.
4. Coaching Education:
   Continuous education for coaches is essential to understand the stages of development, athlete needs, and appropriate training methodologies. Coaches play a vital role in implementing LTAD principles effectively.
5. Community and Environment:
   An encouraging environment that supports young athletes is crucial. This includes positive reinforcement, access to quality coaching, and a supportive family and community.
6. Long-Term Focus:
   LTAD emphasizes long-term participation and development rather than short-term success. It aims to produce well-rounded athletes who can enjoy a lifetime in sport.

I’m not entirely in accordance with the literature in it’s most basic concepts and I’m sure the great majority of elements are not taken in greater consideration, specifically the Retirement and Transition vertical.
But let me guide you step-by-step into my thoughts.

What we’ve been witnessing is slightly different in the recent years, with the kids starting at early ages (there are kids starting the fundamentals as early as 2,5 years old) and, mainly, an increase focus on the performance factor at very young ages. 

Although starting earlier hasn’t shown that we get more players in professional stages (the stats even show that is more and more difficult to become a top-professional with an expected rate of success of becoming professional below 1%), the focus on the performance factor at younger ages has become both a virus and disease in our culture – the winning-at-all-cost culture!

Starting from the beginning, eliminating the younger ages from the equation is something that the studies must take in consideration. Although there’s no relevant sources of information about the effects of this tendency, the truth is that there are a good number of academies working and designing specific programs for these ages, from 2,5 to 5 years old, basically focusing on motor skills and using some Sports to promote their development.

Would there be any correlation with better athletes in the future, not specifically to Football but generally?

Secondly, between the so-called “Fundamental Movement Skills” there are a lot more involved than just the fundamentals. Competitions, in all prospects of it, from local to national, private and governmental supported, there are multiple competitions hold at this ages. 

Is winning important here? 

No, definitely not. 

But competition is always good in my perspective, if guided with the right energy and proportion.

From here, just as before, all seems to be theoretical supported, but with less empirical evidence. 

Some examples are: 

• To start teaching basic skills (dribbling, passing, shooting, etc) at the age of 8?Non-sense! 
• Learning to train and tactical concepts should only start to be introduced after 10 years old? Would that mean that the game should be completely anarchical until what age?
• By the way, what kind of feedback are coaches until then allowed to have (if any)?

Now, a different question is, would that mean that it’s supposed to be fun??

No, definitely not.

Actually, is the opposite.

Join the right amount of information – respecting the progression of complexity when the physical, age and level of the players allow – with a fun environment, culture and a lot of games mixed and you will create something different.

We need to leave the black/white version of things.

Not all needs to be black or white.

It cannot be “anarchical” vs “PlayStation mode”!

Coaches can provide a fun environment, adding the “street game” feeling that we all say is lacking in Professional Football nowadays (very much connected to the lack of creativity), and still give some boundaries and guides. 

The most important is, ALWAYS, to let the players take their decisions!

Good or bad, they will learn more from it than anything the Coach will explain.

Let them play, install basic rules, teach the basics whenever appropriate and create a fun environment throughout your sessions.

Let me know your thoughts.

Speak soon.