Softball Canada’s Long Term Player Development (LTPD) Guide

Far too much emphasis was being placed on teams to win without having the tools or means to measure the development of the players. Having fun was also replaced with winning at any costs for children. Recognizing the need to turn this around, Softball Canada developed the Long Term Player Development (LTPD) Guide that standardizes a player development process by developing a foundation of Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) and introducing fitness and softball skills at the appropriate biological and chronological age.

Richmond Hill Minor Softball Association (RHMSA) also recognizes the importance of putting fun back in the game as well as developing appropriate skill sets. Accordingly, RHMSA runs indoor off-season softball clinics that focus on playing games while learning and developing FMS and basic softball skills. In addition, RHMSA has adopted Softball Canada’s Learn to Play (LTP) program that is modeled on the LTPD to replace the old game of T-Ball.

8 Stages of Player Development

Please keep the following in mind because you are a role model for others. Children learn best by watching the actions of others especially adults.

Stage 1

Active Start (0 to 6 years old) is about getting children interested in physical activity, learning the FMS of running, jumping, catching, twisting, kicking, and throwing and linking them in play. RHMSA’s Learn To Play program is designed to meet this stage of LTPD.

Stage 2

Fundamentals (6 to 9 years old) emphasizes further development of FMS and lays a general foundation of physical capacities.

Stage 3

Learning To Train (9 to 12 years old);

Stage 4

Training To Train (12 to 16 years old) and;

Stage 5

Training To Compete (16 to 23+) focus on developing softball-specific skills, ensuring an appropriate level of fun while adding the competitive aspects of the game.

Stage 6

Learning And Training To Win (19+) emphasizes a shift towards true high performance, including an increased focus on individualized training and performance results at competitions.

Stage 7

Living To Win (23+) emphasizes performance results and international excellence.

Stage 8

Active For Life (all ages) is the final stage of the continuum and may be entered at any time after a player becomes involved in softball. This stage reflects an individual’s desire, competency, and personal interest in the game and emphasizes lifelong participation and activity, not only in softball but in other forms of physical activity. Participation can be as a player, coach, official, league administrator, or board member.

For more information on Long Term Player Development, please visit Softball Canada’s web site at www.softball.ca or or Softball Ontario’s web site at www.softballontario.ca.