INNOVATION POSSIBILITIES IN THE HUNGARIAN SPEED SKATING METHODOLOGY

POSSIBILITIES OF ADAPTATION OF THE LONG - TERM ATHLETE PREPARATION MODEL IN HUNGARIAN SPEED SKATING SPORTS.

Abstract

The Long-Term Athlete Development Program (LTAD) is a kind of paradigm shift from previously known efforts to prepare competitive athletes. The program started in Canada in 2001 from István Balyi of Hungarian origin, which has already been tested and works well in several countries. In Hungary, we have been systematically applying the LTAD program-based approach, training theory and methodology to our own environment in our speed skating sports since 2003, as a result of which we have become at the international forefront. The aim of our research is to present how we introduced the principles and methodology of LTAD in short track speed skating. In addition, the shortcomings, difficulties and strengths in sports development, and through this the vision, are compared and analyzed. During the document analysis, we processed the LTAD program, the sports strategy of the Hungarian National Skating Federation, four different annual preparation programs, their training plans for each meso cycle and their microcycle, as well as a daily training plan from the aspect of our research. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with youth and adult coaches (N = 4) who prepared and worked on the examined documents. Based on our results, it can be said that the LTAD program was not fully implemented in all areas, so the further development of the sport is not guaranteed. In-depth interviews show that preparation is typically driven by long-term goals, but there are signs even of preparation based on short-term goals. Lack of cooperation with parents, continuous communication, conscious development clearly hinders the implementation of LTAD principles and practices. In addition, harmonization between physical education, community recreation, learning and elite sports is incomplete in some places.It has become clear that there are untapped opportunities in the domestic system. We hope that with this, innovative directions and methodologies can be included in the training and further training of speed skating coaches and at the same time in the daily practice of coaches.