2-6 years old
6-10 years old
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Girls: 9-13 Boys: 10-14
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Previous Domain
1/8
Girls: 11-15 Boys: 12-16
Girls: 12-17 Boys: 14-18
Time in Sport
1-4 years
2-5 years
Training Volume
50 hours per season 1-2 sessions per week
2-3 sessions per week 1-2 sessions per week
220 hours/season 3-5 sessions per week
360 hours/season 4-6 sessions per week
480 hours/season 5-7 sessions per week
540 hours/season 5-7 sessions per week
Coached Freeskiing
Summer/Off season Training
Biological Age
Early Childhood
10%
75%
Late Childhood
None
20%
60%
Pre-puberty before growth spurt
25%
0-5 days
Puberty and growth spurt
45%
35%
10 days
4-7 years
30%
5-8 years
40%
6-11 years
10-15+ years
20 days
25 day
15%
Complementary Sports
Freeski with friends and family
Competition Simulation
30+ days
Coached Gate Training
Coached Drills
Participate in many physical activities. Explore individual coordination or balance-based sports. Team sports to build teamwork, ethics, and fair play.
As much as enjoyable
5%
Participate in many sports and activities. Active participation in coordination or balance-based sports. Participation in team sports build teamwork, ethics and fair play.
Continue to participate in many activities and sports. Begin to identify with primary vs. complementary sports.
Continue to participate in complementary sports while identifying clear goals in primary sport.
As much as enjoyable while balancing rest, travel and recovery needs.
Use complementary sports and activities for variety and to enhance aerobic conditioning by increasing training volume in all activities.
The Development Domain Definitions and guidelines used to determine an athlete phase placement. This domain also gives guidance and recommendations on seasonal training volumes at each phase of development along with a recommended mix of training types at each phase. The factors in determining developmental phase are Chronological Age (actual age of the athlete), Biological Age (stage of physical development) and Training Age (number year of sport participation).
Use complementary sports and activities for injury prevention, avoiding burnout, and to maintain all aspects of physical fitness.
Post Puberty after Growth Spurt
As much as enjoyable with necessary balance of rest, travel and recovery needs.
Full Maturation
X
Development Phases Domain
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Chronologial Age
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Athlete’s Results
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The visualizations here have been generated based on your evaluation of the Athlete’s performance, and should be used in coordination with Long-Term Athlete Development, the managed developmental progression for all US. Ski & Snowboard athletes that will both maximize their long-term potential and enjoyment in their sport.
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CONTINUE ➜
Welcome to The Athlete ProfileThe US SKI & SNOWBOARD Training Systems provide an optimal developmental blueprint for skiers and snowboarders. They have been designed to ensure that all athlete, coach, and parent members have the best possible opportunity to fulfill their athletic dreams. They are based on a long-term athlete development model (LTAD) for skiers and riders that emphasizes age-appropriate training and competition. The Training Systems outline the path to sustainable long-term performance that is broken down for each sport. This process is a vital tool to help parents, coaches, and athletes focus on the right things at the right time to maximize their improvement, long-term potential, and enjoyment in skiing and snowboarding. 
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Once you are satisfied with your evaluation,  select the button below for the Results TIP: If printing and saving results, be sure to adjust your individual settings for Scale and Background Graphics to ensure readability.
Speed/DH and SG
Course sets
Competition Strategies
Able to jump with both feet.
Most skiing time should be on easier terrain, such that the athlete can learn/practice sound technique, not learn defensive technique encouraged by steeper terrain.
Focus on skill development through use of SkillsQuest Phase 1 Programs and tournaments.
High intensity and more complex movement patterns are mastered. Dynamic and complex movement patterns are emphasized to achieve a desired outcome on specific terrain and features.
Jumping of any type is considered exciting
Round turns are utilized in GS and slalom. Able to link turns of variable turn size and radius.
Focus on skill development as a competition. Inter-club events and a possible local state competition. Fun comps such as dual, obstacle and kombi formats.
Refine event specific technical and tactical skills to achieve desired outcome. Integrate the increased strength, power and body size to achieve more complex movements and precision of skill application.
Skis a variety of training courses that introduce line and tactics through self-discovery. Introduce more tactical focused drill courses. Skis slalom and GS training courses that have variety.
Racing more GS & SL added to a continuation of dual racing, obstacle courses and skill competitions.
Skis a variety of training courses that introduce line and tactics through self-discovery. Introduce more tactical focused drill courses. slalom and GS training courses that have variety.
Trains and competes in all events. Continue drill based courses to teach technical and/or tactical topics
Mastery of tactical strategies based on the individual's style, discipline and goals.
The yearly training plan demonstrates a balance between all disciplines.
Yearly training plan based on athlete yearly and multi-yearly goals.
4/8
Terrain
The Tactical Domain This domain builds on the Technical Domain by providing recommendations for application of skills to terrain, courses, features and competition venues.
Demonstrates understanding of GS line, appropriate to ability. Slalom gate clearing does not disrupt balanced turn mechanics
Tech/GS and Slalom
Slalom gate clearing demonstrates a seperation of the clearing arm from the skier's torso.
Elementary tuck practiced on cat tracks and low angle groomed runs.
Tactical Domain
Refining tuck on increasingly steeper terrain. Focus is on body position and balance while in a tucked position.
Focus on drill courses & skill/obstacle courses. Limited normal GS courses. SL with stubbies and/or cones and other imaginative type sets are utilized for increasing skillfulness.
Athlete is able to use many methods to clear the slalom gate. Methods match course segments, delay gates, vertical combinations, etc.
Executes SG speed turns in a tuck. SG speed and turn duration is practiced.
Athlete seeks out jumps during free skiing. Athlete learns jump progression for speed events.
Have fun with skiing and gaining confidence on skis. Mileage around the mountain is maximized with an emphasis on fun, freeskiing with friends.
Can smoothly transition between tuck positions. Turns in a tuck position are smooth with appropriate edge pressure allowing the skis to glide as much as possible.
Continue drill course focus around skill development. Begins to work on tucking in GS turns.
Executes jumps with a balanced stance in a tuck while landing with ski parallel to the landing slope.
Athlete has mastered all methods to clear the slalom gate in all situations.
Gaining comfort in applying various tactics in order to ski terrain using different strategies to achieve differing results.
Becomes aware of ski to snow interaction to minimize speed loss. Can transition through tuck positions through a variety of terrain, turns and jumps.
Tactics are learned through self- discovery by skiing around the mountain and adapting to different terrain. Respects and skis challenging terrain or difficult snow conditions.
Jumps at speed can be managed through different types of terraiin including traverses, turns or straight jumps.
Can read course sets requiring speed control and where speed is gained. Mastered all but the most difficult course set. Developing an understanding risk management as related to terrain and course set.
Understand and applies strategic planning to the race course specific to risk management. Knows when control is needed and when to take tactical risks.
Jumps at speed are aerodynamic and precise.
Mastery of all course sets.
Mastery and Innovation stage - Event/Discipline specific technical and tactical mastery.
Leg rotation is smooth that may be complimented with leg flexion and extension movements. Lower body rotation starts to show separation from upper body. Upper body shows discipline complimented with an arm carriage that may facilitate contributory pole action.
Turn initiation movements appear to start in the ankles and move up the kinematic chain. Upper/lower body separation is demonstrated by a stable upper body biased down the hill or race line. Optimal ski to snow pressure is maintained through gross and micro leg movements.
Technical and Tactical Stage - Refinement and blending of specific technical and tactical skills.
General Focus
Upper body remains quiet in space resulting from an equal and opposite contribution relative to the lower body. Arm action is independent of torso. Moving into and out of tuck does not influence ski to snow pressure.
Adventure stage - Skiing all terrain, exploring the mountain
Active start - Learning and fun environments
Ski stance is athletically adaptable. Can ski medium radius turns with parallel skis while maintaining balance. Upper body (pelvis and torso) orients down the fall line.
Technical Domain
Movements are varied, such as; wedge, parallel, converging & diverging steps, skating, etc. leading to outside ski dominance. Able to move from foot to foot and jump off both feet. Can turn both legs in same direction.
3/8
Can balance on the outside ski. Leg rotation is independent of upper body (torso and pelvis) to initiate short radius turns. The body stays perpindicular to terrain changes.
Technical stage - Developing precision of basic skills while learning advanced techniques over a variety of terrain and features
Skier demonstrates outside ski dominance throughout the turn, and becomes aware of the skis orientation on the snow. Skier demonstrates rotary, edging and pressure skills individually and within a ski turn.
Able to demonstrate a clear balanced weight transfer in transition. Able to initiate turn on either inside or outside ski. Beginning to utilize fore aft pressure throughout the turn. Can maintain ski to snow contact on most terrain.
Skier is able to edge ski in different phases of the turn. Edging is achieved by angulation and/or inclination as turn radius and speeds change. Rotation comes from the hip socket.
Utilizes tip pressure at turn initiation to create a carved turn and fall line pressure. Can give self- feedback in regards to rotational balance. Ability to adjust edge angle to required turn radius and maintain a strong outside leg to resist turn forces. Can separate arm action from torso.
Round turns are enhanced through fore/aft pressure regulation and progressive edging. Rotation comes form the hip and can be combined or separated with edge release skills.
Utilizes pressure control along entire length of ski in a smooth, progressive manner. Has reactive ability to move from ski to ski to adjust pressure. Can establish pressure in the fall line or above in certain situations. Can generate speed on flatter slopes.
Able to modulate pressure and adjust edge angle for all turn shapes while maintaining a high tuck in most speed event turns with minimal speed loss.
Athletic Stance and Balance
Aware of the path of the CoM and it's relation to the shortest path in the race course. Can adjust turn radius with edge angle, re-direct and stivot to achieve a combination of shortest line to maintain speed. Can generate speed through leg extension as conditions permit.
Able to adjust pressure in the turn to maximize speed in non fall-line sets. Mastering fore/aft pressure control to minimize speed loss and maximize speed gains.
Ability to maintain turn shape in a variety of turn sizes. Explore turn size allowing for smooth arc to arc execution.
Skills (Rotary, Edging and Pressure)
Turn Strategies
Can ski medium terrain with pressure in the fall line and learning to apply fall line pressure in steep terrain with minimal speed loss. Skier understands the relevance of skidding vs. non-skidding skis.
Linking turns of a variety of sizes and shapes on all terrain and conditions while maintaining speed. Able to limit speed loss during high speed skidding (stivot) maneuvers.
The Technical Domain This domain contains guidelines and benchmarks for the development of key skills required at each phase.  Skills presented in the earlier phases are critical to the progression into the higher levels of each sport.  The recommended skills in each phase were defined and developed by US Ski and Snowboard National Team coaches, Sport Education Committee working groups and other experts in the sport. Technical skills are the foundation of developing in the sport in a measured, logical progression.  Each phase lays the foundation for the next skills outlined in each succeeding phase.
As situations dictate, legs can act independently to generate edging, rotation and pressure. Smooth translation of fore/aft movements throughout the turn.
Able to make short, medium and long radius turn relative to the skier's physical size.
Can adjust turn radius during a turn through independent leg rotation and edging. Able to maintain and gain speed for out of fall line sets. There is flow from turn to turn when rhythm changes in the race course.
Turn size and shape is dictated by the skier. Activities emphasize a wide variety of turn shapes and sizes. Athlete is able to make short, fast rhythmical turns.
Instinctively adapts turn initiation strategies to changing race situations. Has mastery of each skeletal joint's movements in multiple planes. Can manipulate these degrees of freedom as needed to influence ski to snow pressure.
Coordination of Movements
Tactical stage - Application of technical skills to Event/Discipline specific tactics.
Leg rotation is simultaneous while maintaining a parallel relationship between the skis. Can skid down the slope on the uphill edges while maintaining parallel skis. Can flex and extend the lower body proactively and reactively in certain situations.
Adhere to USSA and FIS rules for all equipment selection
Head, arm, hand, shoulder, back, teeth (mouth guard) and shin protection recommended based on event
Proper boot fit and flex are critical for performance. Boots facilitate interaction with the ski.
Equipment Selection & Preparation Domain
GS-standard length. SL-pole guard for blocking and protection, pole may be slightly shorter
Adhere to USSA rules for all equipment selection. Learn upcoming FIS rules.
Skis
Slalom, GS and super G skis. Develop tuning skills
GS-standard length. SL-pole guard for blocking and protection, pole may be slightly shorter.
The Equipment Selection Domain Equipment - boots, bindings, skis, poles along with proper fit and set-up - play an integral role in the athlete’s ability to acquire the skills needed to advance. This domain of the training system outlines the progression of equipment and knowledge and athlete needs to select proper equipment for each phase of development. 
Proper boot fit and flex are critical for performance. Boots facilitate  interaction with the ski. Performance considerations may include flex, cant, forward lean, ramp angle, and foot beds.
Learn USSA rules for all equipment selection
5/8
Proper boot fit with soft forward flex for ankle movement to facilitate a balanced athletic stance
Standard length = forearm horizontal with pole tip in snow
Adhere to USSA and FIS rules for all equipment selection. Equipment testing including skis, boots, plates, bindings and poles is recommended to maximize performance
Helmet required at all times
Slalom, GS and Super G skis with training skis. Tuning skills continue to improve. Insight into waxing and grinding necessary for speed skiers
Discipline specific boots may be necessary to maximize performance
Helmet required. Older athletes may need shin/arm protection
1 pair of skis is sufficient for this group. Head height with a variation based on height, weight, and skill level. Introduce ski preparation
Learn about function and variations between types of equipment.
Proper boot fit and flex are critical for performance. Boots facilitate interaction with the ski. Performance considerations may include flex, cant, forward lean, ramp angle, and foot beds.
Poles
GS-standard length. SL-pole guard for blocking and protection, pole may be slightly shorter. Custom pole sizing and contouring for individuals
Optional-introduce at older levels as skill level develops
Boots
Race and training skis for all disciplines. Professional support or consultation is recommended for preparation
Slalom, GS and super G skis. Refine turning skills
Chest high with a variation based on height, weight and ski level. One pair of all mountain skis is adequate.
Protection
Continue with whole body activities and exercises. Introduce more targeted focus on specific body movements.
Practice safety and competence with free weight techniques. As technique is mastered, increase external loads with focus on whole body movements while addressing any imbalances.
Incorporate varied and sport-specific core stability exercises.
Athlete uses diet planning to maximize training and recovery. Utilize physiologic measures and logbook diary to monitor training. Maintains and respects all facets of healthy habits and lifestyle.
Introduce range of motion, mobility drills, general exercise preparation and coordination through semi structured play.
Appropriate volume and intensity of body-weight training. Use dynamic exercises and movements in multiple planes to enhance power movements.
Develop and/or maintain appropriate energy systems for success in discipline.
High duration, low intensity activities such as running, swimming, biking or hiking are incorporated into the training plan. Include team sports and multi plane activities such as soccer, basketball, utlimate frisbee, etc.
2/8
Endurance
Majority of time spent in movement, mobility, warm up and mechanics. Short duration (20 min) in structured strength and power movements. Light resistance work including bands, med balls, etc.
Rate of growth increases again in preparation for adolescence. Growth rate may have adverse effect on agility, balance and coordination. Weight and height increases.
Master Olympic lifts and supplemental lifting exercises. Utilize eccentric training for overload.
Body continues to develop into adult-like proportions. Rate of growth slows, strength increases and ability to perform fine motor skills increases.
Mobility
Multi-year periodized training plans with varying volumes and intensity are essential to prepare for full competition, training loads and long term performance.
Incorporate daily flexibility training. Limit the loss of mobility, functional strength, balance and coordination during growth spurt through multi joint and whole body exercises.
Continue to incorporate full body movements while increasing volume in jumping, etc. Add duration to strength portion of the workout with continued emphasis on mobility, movement, mechanics and warm up.
Motor Skills
Strength
Practice Olympic lifting technique with no weight. Target all major muscle groups with body weight exercises. Add light weights for biologically advanced athletes. Continue jumping exercises and introduce limited plyometric training.
Growth and Development (Body Composition)
Start to incorporate focused dryland training 1-2 days per week. Enhance body awareness, balance, timing of moevements and spatial anticipation through games and drills.
Use sport specific exercises and more complicated ABC drills to enhance range of motion that target sport specific movements patterns.
Rate of growth reaches peak (Peak Height Velocity). Bodies reach adult heights, muscles grow rapidly while muscle to fat ratios differ between males and females. Heart rate, cardiac output and respiratory capacity increases leading to greater tolerance for exercise.
Create a foundation for agility, balance and coordination (ABC) through participation in multiple sports or physical activities.
Power
Increase ABC through fluidity of movement and range-of-motion in simple activities.
Increase difficulty of balance drills for precision of motor control. Increase flexibility exercises consistent with specific demands of the sport.
Explore activities and games that use a variety of body management, locomotro and object control skills.
Strength and Power programs become more planned and periodized. Workouts become more individualized. Still fun but purposeful in developing the needs of the individual athlete.
Continue to establish foundations of endurance through sustained activity and play. Add duration to activities and games. Manage duration of activity by introducing time-structured games and activities.
Nutrition, Hydration, Recovery
Foundations of endurance is established through sustained activity and play.
Body begins to develop into adultlike proportions in terms of how various body parts relate to each other. Muscle mass increases and fine motor skills begin to emerge.
Limit the loss of flexibility, functional strength, balance and coordination during growth spurt. Use mobility training along with agility, balance and coordination through growth spurt.
Physical Fitness Domain
The Physical Fitness Domain This domain provides definition and guidelines for development of an athlete’s physical capabilities based on phase and age appropriate recommendations.  This domain also addresses guidelines on nutrition, hydration and recovery throughout the phases of development.
General Concepts
Develop understanding of the inverse relationship between volume and intensity. Maintain a sport specific and training endurance level.
Explore whole body movements which encourage range-of-motion and exploration of movement options.
Well rounded nutrition is practiced by parents, child, coaches and club. Proper rest and sleep habits help with recovery and energy management.
Fast movements developed by running, jumping and throwing.
Growth rate slows and stops. Bodies are adult in proportion and muscle to fat ratios. Very little change in height from this point forward. Muscular, skeletal, cardio and respiratory functions are fully formed with capacity for heavier exercise or training loads.
Basic athletic and healthy nutrition concepts are addressed by parents, child, coaches and club. Proper rest and sleep habits are formed.
Physical fitness is becoming an integral part of the season. 1-3 sessions per week. Increase hours of training with varied volumes and intensity.
Use fun playful activities to enhance body awareness, spatial awareness and object manipulation. Incorporate activities that develop quickness (0-10 sec bursts).
Practice a variety of core stability exercises. Incorporate mobility training specific to the sport or discipline.
Athlete awareness increases about importance of nutrition. Healthy sleep habits becomes a component of training and physical fitness.
Introduce and practice mobility exercises through unorganized play and some structured activities.
Implement periodized training with varying volumes and intensity. Training is now essential to seasonal programming with 2-3 sessions per week and off-season fitness plans.
Increase play to develop and enhance specific elements of physical fitness in open environments.
Develop aerobic conditioning with scheduled activities along with increased time spent in games and training
Begin to develop fundamental movement skills through play, fun, novel activities.
Athlete can identify nutritious from non-nutritious food in their diet. Begin to link nutrition with performance. Hydration is monitored. Introduce cool-down, sleep, rest and recovery as part of the training plan.
Implement structured body weight exercises with proper technique to develop overall strength.
Implement plans for a balanced diet to enhance performance. Keep a logbook of all training related activities such as hydration, diet, rest, recovery, sleep, and other factors that contribute to or diminish physical fitness.
Master use of self talk strategies to meet the demands of the moment.
Goal Setting
Imagine past performance related experiences to evaluate cause/effect. Use imagery to generate confidence, motivation and grit to achieve goals. Imagine future scenarios to effectively plan and prepare for training and competition.
Focus
Demonstrate a clear purpose and systematic approach to setting and achieving challenging goals for all factors linked to training and competition. Engage a support network to help schedule and prioritize periodization plans.
Identify when intensity levels increase. Practice taking deep breaths to regulate increased levels of intensity.
Collaborate with team members who share similar motivations and behaviors. Perform training exercises that facilitate mastery of skills. Perform in competitions to demonstrate the mastery of factors linked to goal achievement and performance outcomes.
Challenge team members to share a common motivation for high performance and support one another with training and competing to one's potential.
Continue to evaluate where focused attention should be at any given time to support process goals. Incorporate mindful practices into daily routines in and away from training and competition
Practice body language and non- verbal cues to increase sustained focus during training sessions.
Identify the ‘why’ for sport participation and deconstruct into goals. Outline each factor linked to training and competition to identify controllables. Utilize reflection of past experiences to build awareness of effects on performance. Collaborate with individuals and groups that support and align with stated goals.
Team, Training & Competition
Master use of imagery to meet performance needs in all situations.
Clearly understand and define the 'why' for sport participation. Set process and performance goals prior to seasonal activities. Use a reflective practive to assess and refine goals. Form support structures that effectively encourage and assist goal attainment stategies.
Interpret recurring thoughts that arise during performance related experiences. Identify self talk patterns and their affect on attitude and intensity levels. Assign verbal cues and scripts that support sustained focus and/or a shift in focus.
Engage with and support team members who share similar motivations. Perform training exercises that facilitate focused skill acquisition and goal achievement. Perform in competitions to demonstrate and distinguish skills in support of performance goals.
6/8
Evaluate intensity levels during past performance related experiences to determine causality and effectiveness. Perform mindful breathing techniques and engage in supportive self talk to either increase or decrease intensity levels to maximize performance output.
Master all techniques for managing intensity levels to meet the demands of the moment in all situations.
Identify the benefits of mental imagery. Imagine past successes and future achievements that generate confidence, motivation and grit to achieve goals.
Recall past activities that fostered enjoyment and successful performance of skills.
Continue to monitor and evaluate self talk during performance related experiences. Incorporate self talk into routines and process goals.
Demonstrate a mindful awareness and engagement to focus on the present moment to meet performance demands in all situations.
Model verbal cues that generate fun and fair play. Encourage games that highlight positive self talk and positive attitudes.
Learn mindful practices to strengthen the ability to focus, refocus and shift attention on demand. Formulate cues that support adherence to goals and focusing on the right thing at the right time
Mental Training Domain
Self-Talk
Continue to develop mindful breathing skills and integrate with supportive self talk. Adjust habits and routines to generate effective intensity levels.
Continue to develop imagery skills. Master use of imagery for training purposes and pre-performance routines.
Define what a goal is. Remember, sport related activities and experiences are designed for enjoyment. End sessions by summarizing tasks and activities accomplished.
Learn to take a deep breath before attempting a specific skill, activity or exercise.
Mental Imagery
Clarify how to set goals. Describe which sport related activities and experiences cause enjoyment. Collaborate with supportive individuals and groups who can help interpret and organize the goal setting process.
Learn attentive body language and non-verbal cues to focus attention on a specific skill, activity or exercise.
Examine the 'why' for participation and deconstruct into long term goals. Align and apply challenging process goals for factors linked to training and competition. Create a reflective practice to evaluate past experiences, refine process goals and compose routines. Collaborate with individuals and groups that support and align with stated goals.
Describe which thoughts support confidence and motivation. Learn to use an internal dialogue that generates confidence and motivation.
Develop a supportive internal dialogue that generates confidence, motivation and grit to achieve goals. Use self talk to regulate intensity levels and maintain or shift focus
Intensity
Determine where focused attention should be at any given time for all factors linked to training and competition. Continue to develop mindfulness to strengthen the ability to focus, refocus and shift attention on demand. Formulate cues that support routines, process goals and focusing on the right thing at the right time
The Mental Training Domain Sport and performance psychology attends to the mental factors affecting individual and/or group positive long-term development and peak performance.  Optimal involvement, high performance and enjoyment are key areas of focus.  The mental training domain addresses the foundations of motivation, confidence, physical literacy, skill acquisition, competence, consistency, social development and character development.  Each element and phase lays the foundation for the next skills outlined in succeeding phases.
Establish breath control and generate consistency of intensity levels during performance related experiences.
Visualize the sport environment and how to perform sport related skills. Visualize how to perform training exercises, and in competition, before executing
Engage with all team members to learn and model fair and generous behavior. Perform game play that facilitates enjoyment of the sport.
Engage with all team members to demonstrate fair and generous behavior. Perform training exercises that facilitate fun and skill acquisition. Perform in competitions to have fun, acquire skills, and to learn teamwork and sportsmanship.
Engage with and support team members who share similar motivations. Perform training exercises that facilitate overall skill development and goal achievement. Perform in competitions to further develop skills, engage with others and achieve process goals.hanics
The Competition Domain This domain outlines a gradual pipeline through the competition pathways for each phase of development.  The purpose of a progressive approach to introducing competition to athletes is to reduce stress in high pressure situations in later phases, allow athletes to use competition as a tool to identify areas for improvement, balance training and competition during critical phases of skill development and effectively prepare an athlete for elite level competition. In each phase of development, the Alpine Training Systems outline a General Focus for competition plans and types.  The intent is to provide some overall guidance that dictates the amount and type of completion used in that phase.  In phase 1 and 2, club based games and events designed to build athlete skills are an effective way to ease stress and lay the foundation that competitions can be an enjoyable experience.  In phases 3, 4 and 5 as athletes are entering more traditional structured competitions, the coach should ensure that their seasonal planning has a balance of race starts and training time.  While competition is important to athlete development, races typically involve a significant time investment for very few runs.  Too many competitions in a seasonal plan will cut into valuable training time.
Compete for fun
Disciplines
Emphasize training time over events. 10 or less event days per season
U16s compete in all disciplines. Primary focus on Tech (SL and GS) with limited SG.
Dec-April, 10-20 starts
Compete for skill mastery
1 race for every 5 training days
Compete in U14 disciplines (GS, SL, SG, Children's DH), SkillsQuest and NASTAR
Enjoy the sport for Fun
1 race for every 6 training days
7/8
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Appropriate level and number of race starts ranging from local to national and international competition. Focus on head-to-head performance with Junior Championship track athletes. May race "up" for experience or "down" for rehearsal.
Participate in U10 disciplines (GS, SL, Kombi), SkillsQuest and NASTAR
Nov-April, max of 40 starts
Compete in all disciplines with primary focus on SL and GS. Some exposure to SG and DH increasing through the phase if experience, expertise and motivation dictates.
Compete in U12 disciplines (GS, SL, Children's SG, Kombi), SkillQuest and NASTAR
Competition Domain
1 race for every 3 training days. Volumes may vary depending on discipline(s).
Compete to Win
Regional FIS Series, FIS U, NOR-AM and European FIS races. Olympics, World Cup, World Ski Championships, World Junior Championships, European Cup, NCAA.
Compete for skill acquisition
Club based local events that are innovative with focus on fun and skill progression. Some informal interclub competitions
Club based team games and activities: Interclub events/festivals, NASTAR, Intro to SkillsQuest in later ages.
Local racing leads to state and divisional championships which may lead to regional events and Junior Championships
Race to Training Ratio
Local or Club games and activities.
1 race for every 4 training days
Local racing leads to state and divisional championships in later ages of this phase which may lead to regional events.
Competition Types
Jan-April, 10-15 starts
Nov-April, max of 55 starts
Race Season and Volume
Camel Jump in Wave Track
Straight Run in Wave Track
Freeski with Pole Usage
Freeski - Hourglass
Balance
Freeski - Varied Terrain and Snow Conditions
One Ski Skiing
Linked Turns in Wave Track
One Ski Skiing without Poles
SkillsQuest The drills are organized by developmental phase, with a drill emphasizing each of the four primary skiing skill areas - pressure, edging, rotary and balance - as part of the assessment for the particular phase. This structure makes it easy for coach and athlete to identify relative strengths and weaknesses in the key skiing skills areas. Additionally, the drills across each row are all related, getting progressively more challenging as the developmental phase of the athlete increases. This allows athletes to continually work toward achievement while experiencing successes along the way.
Hockey Stop
Pole Jumpers in Tuck
Pivot Slips
Steps & Jumps
Pole Jumpers
One Ski Skiing Hourglass
Slideslip to Straight Run to Sideslip
Rotary
Outside Ski Turns
Freeski - Lane Changes
Pressure
Vertical Bursh Quickness Course
Straight Run to Sideslip with Edge Set
Freeski with Parallel Skis
SkillsQuest
Basic Outside Ski Turns
Edging
Hop Turns
One Ski Skiing with Lane Changes
8/8
Freeski - Moguls in "V" Shaped Corridor
Go To Matrix
Enter Athlete’s Name:
Welcome to The Athlete ProfileThe Training Systems are divided into 6 Phases of Development and 7 Domains of characteristics that lead to athletic excellence.  The Phases of Development track an athlete’s progress from sport entry through to World Class Performance.  The phases are based on a combination of an athlete's chronological, biological and training ages.  These three factors are the primary determinants of what activities, skills, and competition levels are appropriate for each phase. The Domains are the major categories of focus toward successful athletic development.  Each domain contains several elements that make up the domain.The focus of this Athlete Profile activity is to provide a greater understanding of the Training Systems as well as to provide an interactive tool that can be used for preparing individual planning and preparation. Coaches, athletes, and parents are encouraged to complete this activity together so that areas of improvement can be identified and future developmental plans can be easily constructed to produce exceptional outcomes.By completing this activity you will develop a greater understanding of the developmental phases, the domains of athletic performance, and the criteria within each domain. By evaluating an athlete through this training systems activity, you will produce a printable report identifying an athlete’s specific placement within the training systems. This report can be reviewed, shared, and stored to track development through time. Each page of the activity provides insight into the developmental domain as well as providing selectable boxes to identify specific individual characteristics. Once the criteria within each domain has been identified, an individual report will be generated identifying the athlete’s strengths and areas for improvement within the training system domains. Begin this activity by entering the athlete’s name in the box below and pressing the starting arrow.
First and Last Name...