Player development

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.


Athlete Development Framework

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 roll ball (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 rollball
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 - Athletic Performance

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