Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD)

Sovereign Lake's childrens programs are designed to follow Sport Canada's Long Term Athlete Development Model (LTAD). Most importantly they will have Tonnes of Fun...

Bunnies

Ages 3-5

The Bunnyrabbit level is aimed at children three to five years of age. The objective is to introduce them to cross-country skiing, the healthy lifestyle associated with it, and to:

• Help children develop a positive self-image
• Be fun
• Provide children an opportunity to make ski-friends
• Develop their skills
• Help develop awareness and appreciation of our natural environment

These goals are achieved through short and lively one hour sessions that are held in and around the stadium and ski playground area. Your child will learn the ready position, how to fall and rise, side step, star turn, tracking, herringbone, snowplow braking, and the first progression on diagonal stride. Coaches deliver these fundamentals of skiing through team games and short adventure skis. The season ends with a special Ski Tournament event, comprised of a morning of fun including relay races, obstacle bumps, and a jungle trail. Parents are expected to remain with their child throughout the session at this level.

Jackrabbits One Hop

Level 1 – 2
Ages 6 – 7 
Special Rabbits (all levels)

This Jackrabbit level is aimed at children six to nine years of age. The objective of the program is for participants to learn basic cross-country ski skills and to instill a lifelong interest in the sport. In addition, it is to:

• Help children build confidence
• Be fun.
• Provide children an opportunity to ski and socialize with their ski-friends
• Build overall motor skills
• Help children develop outdoor winter safety skills
• Introduce children to competitive skiing,

Three important aspects need to be developed at this stage: technique, fitness, and speed. This level has an award system to help children track their progress. The awards are:

• Technique awards: Levels 1 to 5
• Program awards:
  
  • Beckie Scott “Sprint” Award (five levels)
  • Richard Weber “Snow Goal" Distance Award (five goals)
  • Pierre Harvey “Hat Trick” Award (five levels)

For ages six and seven, twelve 1.5 hour sessions [1/wk] are offered.

New skills learned at this age include diagonal stride gliding step, double poling, kick turn, snowplow turn and snowplow stop. An introduction to racing and skiing twice a week is included in the program through the participation of:

• SLNC Ski Tournament
• SLNC Tips up Cup race or one other local short race (Atom category, ages 6-7)
• SLNC Mini-Loppet
• Evening Ski Party

Jackrabbits Two Hop

Level 3 – 4
Ages 8 -9

26 sessions on-snow (twice a week for 13 weeks)

The Jackrabbit Two Hop is Level 3-4 of the Jackrabbit program.

At this level, the young athletes will ski in a group setting twice a week for 13 weeks for a total of 26 sessions. Weekly dryland training and early season skiing is also offered from October on. Technique, fitness, and speed will continue to be developed, and the award system will help children keep track of the progress. The awards are:

• Technique awards: Level s 1 to 5
• Program awards:
  
  • Beckie Scott “Sprint” Award (five levels)
  • Richard Weber “Snow Goal" Distance Award (five goals)
  • Pierre Harvey “Hat Trick” Award (five levels)

Group sessions generally include ski play to warm up, a balance and agility game, review and introduction of a new key skill, a game to emphasize the new skill, and then ski play and wrap up. New techniques learned at this level include: diagonal stride – long step, one-step double poling, downhill tuck, step turn, and parallel side slipping. Skating is introduced at this age and includes free skate, diagonal skate, skate turn, one skate, two skate, and offset.

Racing is also introduced at this age, starting at distances of 0.5 km and progressing to a maximum of 2 km in the Pee Wee (ages 8-9) category. Sprints are also introduced in a fun relay situation. The young athlete will participate in a minimum of four FUN formal or semi-formal competitive experiences per season:

• SLNC Ski Tournament
• SLNC Tips up Cup race
• Two other local short races
• SLNC Mini-Loppet
• Evening Ski Party

Inter-club social and fitness oriented activities (ie: club camps) are also encouraged at this age. Generally a Regional camp is held in October (dry-land) and an early on-snow camp in late November.

Track Attack

Ages 10 – 13

26 sessions on-snow plus early season skiing and dryland

In the Track Attack program the young athletes are Learning to Train. The objective of the program is for the participants to become technically competent cross-country skiers, and to utilize those skills to explore a wide range of cross-country ski activities, from back country excursions to Ski Tournaments. In addition, it is designed to:

• Develop fitness through active play, games and other activities
• Be fun.
• Provide children with an opportunity to be part of a sport “team”
• Develop overall sport skills
• Expose children to a variety of “adventure based” cross country ski activities

To recognize progress, Track Attack Targets have been established. The Track Attack incentives, which are playing cards depicting famous cross country skiers, are awarded for the successful achievement of each Target. There are five categories: technique, attendance at competitive events, participation in another dimension of skiing, training, and something different.

At this level, the young athletes will ski in a group setting twice a week for 13 weeks for a total of 26 sessions. Weekly dryland training and early season skiing is also provided from October on. Athletes should be skiing a third session a week, and coaches will provide tasks to focus on during this independent session.

Techniques will be refined at this level, as well as speed, strength, stretching, and mental training.

The young athlete will participate in adventure and competition based experiences per season:

• SLNC Ski Tournament including team sprints or double cross
• SLNC Tips up Cup race
• Two other local races
• SLNC Mini-Loppet
• Evening Ski Party
• Back-country and/or ski orienteering adventure
• BC Midget Championships (Mini-midgets are ages 10-11, midgets are 12-13)

Inter-club social and fitness oriented activities (ie: club camps) are encouraged at this age. Generally, Regional Camps are held in October (dry-land) and late November (on-snow).