Athletes are often focused on the skills they need to unlock, the next competition result, and what they should be doing now to perform in a year’s time. But what happens after next season? Is there a better way to develop their skills for the long term, rather than simply acquiring them as quickly as possible? And what do training goals look like further down the line?

This kind of long-term thinking and planning is something coaches need to support athletes with. You have to consider the athlete’s current level, how to progress them, and whether training can be structured now to maximise long-term benefits.

In this week’s episode we explore long-term development, what it means, and how we approach it in our coaching to guide athletes not just towards their next competition, but over the next few years.

Listen to hear more about athletes skipping steps in their development, the true level of commitment required for semi-finals athletes, and Sam’s latest experience in a spin class.

Check out Luke on instagram! (https://www.instagram.com/lj.holmes/)

Check out Sam on instagram! (https://www.instagram.com/tailormadecoaching/)

Check out Matt Harvey on instagram! (https://www.instagram.com/mattharvvey/)

Email Matt Harvey for content production! (mattharvey93@gmail.com)

Show Notes:

[0:30 ] Sam’s spin dance class

[3:30 ] Creating long term development with athletes

[7:00 ] Individual variation amongst athletes and rate of progress

[9:00 ] Athletes overestimating their level

[11:00 ] Skipping steps, doing too much too soon

[13:00 ] When the metric becomes the goal

[15:30 ] Holding back an athlete's progress

[18:00 ] Getting caught in a cycle of too many competitions

[20:00 ] When some athletes work on their weaknesses too much

[26:00 ] Taking time not to work on your weaknesses

[27:00 ] The work it takes to compete at a high level

[30:00 ] Having a compartmentalised approach to training for CrossFit

[39:00 ] The benefit of coaches competing and doing the work

[48:00 ] Wrapping up and final points