Development plan
Development Plan
Concept
- A development plan is a strategic roadmap outlining an athlete’s current abilities and targeted landmarks for improvement within a specified timeframe.
- It is based on the initial analysis derived from the performance profile.
- The plan is designed to leverage strengths while concurrently improving weaknesses in an athlete’s performance.
Structure
- Comprehensive development plans should ideally encompass physical, technical, psychological, and tactical aspects of sports performance.
- It is structured around SMART targets - specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
- Interventions and practices should be quantifiably linked to SMART targets.
- The timescale is integral, encompassing short, medium, and long-term goals.
Process
- Identify priorities based on the performance profile. Focus initially on key areas that will yield the most significant impact.
- Set goals by identifying what the athlete needs to improve and where they want to be at the end of the set period.
- Action planning includes specific approaches to achieving goals, focusing on training strategies, skills to be attained, and behavioural changes if needed.
- The plan should be flexible to adapt to the athlete’s progress, extrinsic factors such as injuries, and other unexpected changes.
- Should envisage resources required for the execution of the plan. Build in support from coaches, peers, and other resources or interventions if required.
Evaluation
- Regular reviews allow for evaluating progress towards achieving the set goals.
- It encourages reflection on what strategies are working, what aren’t and what might need changing.
- Comparing current performance with previous profiles aids in understanding the impact of the development plan.
Benefits
- Development plans guide the athlete’s training focus and help manage progression.
- The structure offered by plan creates a sense of accountability leading to consistency in training and improvement.
- They foster self-awareness, enabling athletes to become autonomous and take ownership of their performance.
- They ensure that all aspects of performance are monitored, and no area is neglected.
A well-structured development plan aligned with a robust performance profile is instrumental in honing skills, improving performance, and achieving excellence. It is a dynamic guide that aids both the athlete and the coach in managing the journey of continuous development and growth in sport.