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 is a participant enjoys their experience and 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.

A pathway model for Touch does not exist in Ireland and in the absence of such information Ireland Touch have licensed Touch Football Australia’s Coaching Courses to facilitate player pathway development until such information is home grown.  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.