Pathway
National Governing Bodies need to ensure that there is a framework for the development of participants. They may be players, referees, coaches, manages, committee members or fulfil other roles in the sporting family. The most obvious is player development whether a player wants to participate for purely social pleasure or attain the highest possible honour in the sport. Pathway development aims is to provide an infrastructure for participants to attain their desired level of competition and pleasure in the sport. It follows that if a participant enjoys their experience and it is fulfilling they will be retained in the sport. The Irish Sports Council published Building Pathways in Irish Sport. The Term Player/Athlete Development (LTPAD) model explores the development of players from youth to retirement, from initial motor skills to elite competition. It does not deal with any specific sport. Ireland Touch Association uses Touch Football Australia’s pathway model to facilitate player pathway development. The Pathway information documented here has been taken from the Australian Institute of Sport. It is based on the Foundation, Talent, Elite, Mastery (FTEM) model.Touch Skills by Category
Category - Movement
Foundation
Running – sprinting
Running – backwards
Running – with the ball
Agility – side stepping
Agility – side to side shuffling
Agility – swerving
Talent
Running – sprinting technique
Agility – Stepping a defender
Agility – forwards
Agility – backwards
Agility – sidewards
Elite
Running – appropriate attacking lines
Running – backwards at speed
Mastery
Stepping off both feet
Exploiting space
Category - Ball
Foundation
Passing – Ball grip
Passing – stationary
Passing – on the run
Catching
Half pass (introduce)
Talent
Spiral pass
Passing left and right
Acting Half pass
Draw and pass Dummy
Wrap pass
Elite
Running pass both sides
Cut out pass
Switch pass variations
Wrap pass variations
Catching – elite
Mastery
Long pass both hands
Long pass from ground
Reverse/rewind/quarterback pass
4 on 3 cut out pass
Category - Rollball
Foundation
Static rollball
Dynamic rollball (introduce)
Talent
Dynamic rollball
Rollball positioning (side of defender)
Dump-split
Elite
Downtime awareness
Roll ball at speed
Static rollball elite (strike-dump)
Mastery
Left and right hand execution
Footwork into roll ball
Swiping
Splitting off the ball
Controlling the Rollball
Category - Rucking
Foundation
Half role
First receiver role
Talent
First Receiver positioning
Rucking at pace
Wrapping from half
Elite
Rucking patterns
Direct rucking
Expansive rucking
Mastery
Transition into line attack
Exit patterns
Category - Attack
Foundation
Running into space
Effecting the touch in attack
Supporting ball carrier
Progressing ball toward scoreline
Scoring a Touchdown
The Tap
Talent
Slide dive – introduce
Switch
Wrap
Scoop
Decision making – 2 on 1
Attacking space
Elite
Slide dive – elite
Switch variations (As & Bs)
Wrap variations
Decision making- 3 on 2
Attacking lines – hook
Defender manipulation
Mastery
Phase Plays
Sequencing set plays
Attack variations – static, running
Decision making – 4 on 3 execution
Attack lines – in, out, bounce
Scorezone tactics
Category - Defence
Foundation
Returning onside
Effecting the touch in defence
Foundation ‘team’ defence
Talent
Ruck defence
Wrap defence
Switch defence
Defensive space awareness
Body positioning in touch
Compressed / shutdown defence
Elite
General defensive policy – 1,3,5
Line defence policies – hold / tread
Mastery
Defensive policies – hold (no bite), press, and isolate
Defensive tactics – sniping, flattening, proximity cues
Position specific roles
Pre touch position
Mastery touch execution
Post-touch action
Category - Game Concepts and Strategies
Foundation
Communication
Basic understanding of rules
Basic positional understanding
Talent
Non verbal communication
Application of rule knowledge
Effective substitution
Positional differences
Elite
Substitution rotations
Elite rule interpretations/variations
Position specific roles
Elite drop off strategies
Playing with five on field
Mastery
Various/all game plan tactics and scenarios
Knowledge of mastery referee interpretations
Category - Game Concepts and Strategies
Foundation
Warm up /Cool down– education and introduction
Stretching
Talent
Warm up – movement specific
Mental preparation – basic
Nutrition for performance
Recovery – stretching & hydration
Elite
Recovery – Ice baths, injury management
ASADA Anti-Doping Education
Strength & conditioning elite
Mastery
Psychology
Leadership
Improve performance through life balance
Strength and conditioning – mastery