Leaderboards 
Become a Member 
Shop 
Trade In Five Principles of the American Development Model
I. Developmentally Appropriate Activities That Emphasize Motor and Foundational Skill Development
A clear understanding of an athlete’s developmental level (as opposed to his or her age) will help coaches, parents, and administrators appropriately tailor the training, skills, and tactics taught to maximize an individual’s full potential, while helping avoid burnout.
In order to succeed, participants must first learn foundational motor skills and technique. Coaches, parents, and administrators who jump directly into competition tactics and strategy without emphasizing basic fundamentals may put their athletes at a disadvantage. To ensure long-term success, participants must be given adequate time and knowledge to develop these essential building blocks for success.
II. Universal Access to Create Opportunity for All Athletes
Enhanced entry is defined as creating opportunities for everyone to begin and participate in sport. By providing enhanced entry to all regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability, and economic status, more Americans have the ability to become involved in sport and be more physically active. Sport must be inclusive so that everyone has the opportunity to discover the benefit of physical activity and realize their full athletic potential.
Sport and physical activity are tools for Americans to express themselves, develop social relationships, and learn valuable life lessons.
III. Encourage Multi-Sport Participation
Multi-sport participation is critical to developing a well-rounded foundation for physical activity that can transfer between sports. Encouraging children to participate in multiple sport activities at a young age offers them the opportunity to explore, play, and discover sport according to their personal interests and skill level.
Multi-sport play also provides several cross-training benefits for all, such as strength, endurance, agility, coordination, and speed training. This will enhance athleticism and promote a healthy lifestyle. Athletes also benefit from the social and psychological impact of multi-sport participation.
IV. Fun, Engaging and Challenging Atmosphere
A fun, engaging, and challenging environment is essential for any sport activity. The definition of “fun” may change as participants advance to more elite levels of competition, but a standard emphasis on making the process positive and enjoyable is key.
Free and spontaneous play is encouraged to help foster growth and development. By offering the opportunity for unstructured play, athletes are more likely to customize physical activity to meet their needs and keep the fun in sport intact. Fun, engaging, and challenging programs result in long-term, healthy athletes and golfers.
V. Quality Coaching at All Age Levels
Quality coaches are critical to athlete development. Therefore, quality coaching education is imperative for athlete success at all levels. Quality coaching not only requires a youth coach to be qualified and highly knowledgeable about their sport, but also to understand effective communication, practice planning, and athlete development. The best coaches view themselves as life-long learners and are always working toward improving themselves.
Why Adopt the 5 Key Principles of ADM?
What are the shortcomings of not following the key principles of the American Development Model?
- Developmental golfers over-compete and under-train.
- Adult training and competition programs are superimposed on young developing golfers.
- Training programs designed for males are superimposed on females.
- Preparation is geared to the short-term outcome – winning – and not to the process of developing.
- Fundamental movement skills and fundamental sports skills are not taught properly.
- The most knowledgeable coaches work at the elite level, while less knowledgeable volunteers often coach at the developmental level where quality, trained coaches are essential for optimum golfer development.
- Parents are not educated about physical literacy and ADM.
- The developmental training needs of golfers with a disability are not well understood.
- The competition system can interfere with golfer development.
- There is no integration between physical education programs in the schools, recreational community programs, and elite competitive programs.
What could you see in your child's development due to these shortcomings?
- Poor movement abilities and athleticism.
- Limited skill development due to under-training.
- Poor habits developed from over-competition focused on winning.
- Female golfers may not reach full potential due to inappropriate programs.
- Children not having fun as they play adult-based programs – or golf courses set up for adults.
- Burnout can occur from overtraining as can future injuries from improper and overtraining.
- A lack of systematic development in the next generation of high performers.
- Fluctuating national performance due to poor understanding of talent development, identification, and transfer within a developmental pathway.
- Golfers failing to reach their personal potential and optimal performance level.
- Lack of proper fitness leading to obesity.
