Athlete Development

Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Introduction

Guiding Principles of the LTAD

• Programs Direct athletes toward doing the right thing at the right time.
• Athletes are encouraged to achieve stage specific outcomes prior to undertaking activities associated with the subsequence stage.
• Training Programs are tailored to the individual based on the nature of their development and considers their physical, psychological and social characteristics.
• The sport of Triathlon will work with, not in opposition to, or repeating the work of, other sports that triathletes are participants in during their early years of development.

Peak Height Velocity (PHV)

The period of growth and development when an individual's growth is undergoing the most rapid period of change.  Also referred to as the adolescent growth spurt. The Long Term Athlete Development framework uses PHV instead of chronological age to inform training and program development.

ELITE ATHLETE INFORMATION

When applying for or renewing TriBC membership, athletes have the option of declaring their provincial “Elite” standing.  While the decision to make this declaration is up to the athlete, TriBC will review the basis for the declaration before issuing a provincial “Elite” card.  An athlete must hold an Elite or Junior Elite card to race in any Elite heats at BC Race Series events, BC Provincial Championship events, national events, or international events.  Athletes holding an Elite card must compete in the Elite category. At events where an Elite category is not offered, athletes may elect to compete in their respective age group.

To qualify for funding to national and international competitions and for the Provincial Series points, athletes must hold an “Elite” card and race in the Elite category.  Junior athletes (aged 16-19) who wish to declare themselves “Elite” may also do so.  Please refer to the Junior Elite Carding criteria listed below.

NOTE: All Elite athletes must submit a photocopy of their BC Care Card to prove residency along with the application.  

To view the Elite Carding Criteria, click HERE.

JUNIOR ELITE INFORMATION

Due to impending National guidelines, Junior Elite Carding criteria is more comprehensive in scope, speaking to the increased level of difficulty when riding in a draft-legal, pack environment.  Athletes requesting Junior Elite cards must:

• Be current members in good standing with Triathlon BC.
• Submit a photocopy of their BC Care Card to prove residency along with the application.
• Provide reference, by way of a signed letter issued by a certified coach, confirming drafting competency and experience.
• Athletes must undergo drafting evaluation by a National Training Centre (NTC), Regional Training Centre (RTC) or Provincial Triathlon Centre (PTC) coach, or named representative. Athletes are also strongly encouraged to participate in an NTC/RTC/PTC Training Camps.

To view the Junior Elite Carding Criteria, please click HERE.

Triathlon BC has consistently matched the AAP funding received by the BC Government to help our developing athletes. Typically, annual funding to select high-performance athletes has been in the $1,000 to $2,000;  

Athlete assistance program selection criteria - APPLICATION DEADLINE, JANUARY TBA

The BC Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) is an athlete-centred program, funded and administered by the Sport and Recreation Branch. AAP seeks to recognize and support BC high performance athletes striving to represent the Province and Canada in athletic competition.

The program seeks to relieve some of the pressures associated with training and competition needs while participating in provincial, national and international sport events.

The Selection Criteria can be downloaded HERE.

All applicants must submit a written submission listing, in point form, how they meet each of the listed criteria points (Section 5.0).  Further, application must include a formal AAP Application Form.  Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Please do not forward applications to the Sport Branch.

PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

At the Triathlon and Duathlon Provincial Championships, Triathlon BC assists with the cost of travel of the top elite male and female athletes to the Canadian National Championships.  Three funding teirs are available, based on the location of the National Championships:

Training Camps

Each year a number of training camps aimed at kids aged six to nineteen have been conducted throughout the Province. In the past, areas such as Penticton, Kelowna, Victoria, Prince George, Nanaimo, and Vancouver have hosted camps.

The National Triathlon Training Centre (NTTC), in conjunction with Triathlon Canada and the Canadian Sport Center Pacific (CSC-P) trains British Columbia's top young athletes.  The NTTC's Head Coach, Patrick Kelly brings knowledge, enthusiasm and plenty of motivation to his development squad.  Patrick has also been appointed as the Head Coach of the 2009 Canada Games Team, who will represent BC in Prince Edward Island in 2009!  Mr. Kelly welcomes training and racing questions from young BC-based racers, he can be reached at p.kelly@shaw.ca.

Visit the National Training Centre's Blogspot, and be kept up to speed with the future of our sport!

Read about the latest Victoria NTC/Triathlon BC Fall Training Camp HERE