Tauranga Boys' College


ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMESubtitle

Vision “To produce secondary school athletes of the highest calibre”

KEY PRIORITY AREAS

  • stronger, faster, fitter, athletes
  • Work ethic, work ethic, work ethic
  • Change the culture of training

IT

  • is based on sport research and principles that have been widely studied all over the world.
  • is contingent on an optimal training, competition and recovery program that is based on biological development and maturation versus chronological age (i.e. although young athletes may be the same age, their bodies are at very different levels of development).
  • is athlete-centred and coach-driven.
  • is supported by sports administration.
  • is designed according to sport science to allow equal opportunity for recreation and competition.
  • provides a training path to possible national performances for those who choose high performance competition.

Sports performance is underpinned by foundational movement skill. This means that the development of sport-specific skills, and the robustness to perform them repeatedly under pressure, is ultimately determined by how well an athlete moves.

Unfortunately, most young athletes we see struggle to move well, yet they continue to pack more and more into their busy schedule.

In the short term they succeed. The young athlete who does more - more 'drills' and more 'fitness' - typically wins. But as time passes, it stops working, and niggly injuries creep in.  Eventually, development plateaus, enjoyment is lost, and the athlete quits. Or a serious injury ends their journey prematurely.
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In the Tauranga Boys’ College Athlete Development Programme, there are two things that are key to how we approach developing youth athletes. The first is establishing the fundamentals. It’s only when the basic building blocks are in place that more complex tasks can be mastered. And secondly, our programmes are founded on a robust evidence base, supported by latest research and pedagogy. 

We focus on effort and self-improvement. This way, our athletes are more likely to display a strong work ethic, persist in the face of failures or disappointments, and commit the time and effort necessary to reach their potential.

Our aim is to guide young athletes through a long-term development programme that fosters independence, self-confidence and resilience by setting clear expectations for learning and achievement. Development of these skills and abilities helps young athletes learn faster and achieve more in the sports they love, while fostering a love for movement that will last a lifetime.

Along with the stream of Strength and Conditioning we have established an athlete hub which will focus on 3 other streams

  • Nutrition
  • Sports Psychology
  • Prehabilitation and rehabilitation through Physiotherapy

We will use expert agencies in helping us deliver this programme to our boys.

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WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AT TAURANGA BOYS' COLLEGE

YEAR 9 

One morning per week with ADP staff throughout the year. This is every Monday at 7.30 am in Gymnasium 1.

All boys turn up even when they have their timetabled AD class.

Our athletes will also get 1 term per year 5 times a week. This is timetabled into their daily programme

Their ADP classes run in the option line. This programme consists of 2 periods with our Strength and Conditioning coach focusing on movement competency, 2 periods with their teacher focusing on generic skills-throw, catch, run, jump, tactical and spatial awareness and 1 period of work ethic, building character and resilience in sport.

This gives us 80 sessions in the year which will be a requirement in order to gain their ‘lifting ticket’ in order to start the year 10 programme and a faster pathway to their potential

Our evidence shows us that those boys who commit to Monday before school gain their lifting ticket 6 months earlier than those who just do the in class periods.

Our Focus

Concentration to a task

Commitment and perseverance to learning new skills

Movement competency exercises

  • Balance & Coordination
  • General strength, stability and flexibility using functional training
  • Speed
  • Fundamental techniques of running, jumping, landing, slowing down and stopping 
  • Fundamental techniques of strength and power

Game intelligence basics – e.g. spatial recognition/communication/teamwork

YEAR 10 

This is also an option class available 2 x lunches a week when not timetabled and 2 terms per year 5 x a week. 

The programme covers basic lifting techniques and Olympic lifting techniques.

The ADP classes when timetabled during school time will work through the ‘Copper’ strength and Conditioning programme. This is a ‘learning to train’ model with an introduction to resistance weight training. They will have 2 periods of generic skill development (moving into space, communication, hand-eye, foot-eye coordination, and tactical awareness) and their 5th session will be around work ethic and building character and resilience in sport. 


These are specialised classes with Rugby, Football, Basketball,Volleyball, Hockey  and Winter and Summer sports classes.

Senior Athletic Development Programme 

This is an open by application programme but selections are made on this basis

- team athletes and individual sports athletes as identified by coaches. (those selected have been talent identified as potential 1st team athletes)

- work ethic as displayed in the year 10 programme is taken into consideration.

YEAR 11 (3 classes)

Bronze Programme

This will consist of a periodised training plan with the key goal to correct muscle imbalances and build foundation strength, injury prevention and speed.

There are 2 in class lifting sessions along with any sport training requirements

YEAR 12

Silver Programme

This will consist of a periodised training plan focus with a key goal of progressing training adaptations, injury prevention and speed. This has a ‘training to compete’ focus.

There are 2 in class lifting sessions along with any sport training requirements

YEAR 13

Gold Programme

This will consist of an individualised in season and off season programme focus with a key goal of specific strength, power and speed for athletes in their chosen Sports code

There are 2 in class lifting sessions along with any sport training requirements

YEAR 13 ADRUGBY

This is a selected class of boys who will be part of the 1st XV Rugby squad. There are lifting sessions built into their daily timetable along with skill development, cultural components and analysis of skill and games.

There will be those who do not do Athlete Development as an option but are identified athletes that will follow the above programme in their before or after school slots often within their first team trainings with S and C coaches.

Each athlete will be tested quarterly and a report will be generated to demonstrate athletic development. This can be accessed by coaches,teaching staff and athletes through the VALD hub.