Climbing Escalade Canada endorses the Sport for Life Long-Term Development framework: the idea that children, youth, and adults develop best in sport when they do the right things at the right time. CEC’s Sport Climbing Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model applies that framework to climbing, guiding coaches, officials, facility operators, and administrators as they build programs for athletes in both recreational and competitive settings.
Long-term athlete development
The Sport Climbing LTAD model sets out eight stages of development. Ages are a guide: athletes move through the stages at their own pace, based on growth and maturation as much as age.
- Active Start: birth to age six. Fun, active play that builds basic movement.
- FUNdamentals: ages six to eight (girls) or nine (boys). Broad movement skills through a variety of sports, with climbing as one of them.
- Learn to Train: ages nine to 11 (girls) or 12 (boys). Learning core climbing skills and technique.
- Train to Train: ages 11 to 15 (girls) or 12 to 16 (boys). Building fitness and consolidating skills through structured training.
- Learn to Compete: ages 15 to 17 (girls) or 16 to 18 (boys). Developing competition skills and performing under pressure.
- Learn to Win: age 16 and older. Specializing and preparing for national and international podiums.
- Winning for a Living: age 18 and older. Competing at the highest international level.
- Active for Life: any age after the growth spurt. Staying in the sport for good, as a climber, coach, official, setter, or volunteer.
The full Sport Climbing LTAD model is available in Resources.
Athlete development matrix
The Athlete Development Matrix (ADM) is a skills inventory built by the CEC Coaching Committee. It shows coaches which climbing skills to introduce at each stage of development, which skills athletes should already have, and the order in which skills build on each other.
To use it:
- Identify your athletes’ stage of development using the LTAD model.
- Find that stage in the skills inventory to see which skills to introduce and which should already be in place.
- Use the tables to plan the sequence: which skills come before others.
- Check the glossary for any terms you’re unsure of.
The Athlete Development Matrix is available in Resources. Questions about the matrix go to coaching@climbingcanada.ca.
Your path
Every athlete’s path is different, but the next step is usually clear.
- Ready to try competition? The Compete section covers the competition series, categories, and how to register.
- Aiming for nationals? The Compete section also explains how athletes qualify for CEC championships.
- Aiming for Team Canada? See International & Selection for how athletes are selected.