It takes a village
As we approach the end of the year, you are probably already planning your child’s sporting goals and activities for next year, with that in mind, we wanted to take you behind the scenes of our Junior Development Program Roadmap. A structured, science-backed framework that guides how we support young athletes through growth, maturation, and long-term development.
Whether your child is new to sport or preparing for their next step, understanding this roadmap will help you plan for the year ahead with clarity and confidence.
The Road Map: How Our Junior Development Program Builds Better Athletes, Step by Step
In our previous newsletters, we explored how understanding growth and maturation — especially Peak Height Velocity (PHV) — allows us to tailor training to each young athlete’s needs. We also discussed why developing strong movement foundations before adding strength is essential for long-term athletic success.
This month, we take you deeper behind the concept of our Junior Development Program and show you how the full roadmap works from start to finish. For athletes aged 10–14, this roadmap is the blueprint that guides safe progression, builds confidence, and ensures every athlete develops the skills they need at the right time.
Our aim is simple: To build adaptable, efficient, and resilient athletes who are prepared for long-term success, not just short-term performance.
Step One — The Road Map: Science-Backed Testing and Individualisation
Before any athlete enters our program, they complete our Junior Athletic Movement Assessment (JAMA). This assessment gives us two crucial pieces of information:
Growth & Maturation Status through PHV, height, seated height, and weight
Movement Competency across fundamental patterns such as squatting, hinging, jumping, landing, and coordination
Because every child grows at a different rate, this information allows us to place athletes into the appropriate development level (Level 1–3) and set personalised focus areas for the upcoming 10-week term.
This is the starting point of the puzzle, understanding who the athlete is today so we can guide where they need to go next.
Step Two — Movement Is Key: Building the Athlete From the Ground Up
In junior athletes, talent is often mistaken for strength, but in reality, great junior athletes are great movers. They can run, jump, land, stabilise, and change direction efficiently.
Each of our session’s blends:
Motor skills: running technique, jumping, landing, change of direction, hand-eye coordination
Gym-based movement patterns: squats, hinges, pushes, pulls, trunk control
By mastering movement early, athletes become adaptable and capable of transferring these skills into any sport or environment. This builds the foundation for strength, speed, and power that will come later in their athletic journey.
Step Three — The Flexible Schedule: Development Without the Stress
We know young athletes have busy lives, school, sport, training, family commitments.
That’s why our program offers a flexible training timetable with unlimited access across multiple weekly sessions. Athletes can swap between times and days to maintain consistency without feeling overwhelmed or over-trained. The goal is development, not pressure.
Step Four — Planned Progression: The Puzzle Piece That Makes It All Work
Progression in junior athletes is not about how much weight they can lift. It’s about how well they move.
Our coaches progress training through:
Increased movement complexity
Tempo variations
Constraint-based approaches
Task manipulation
Every decision is intentional and age-appropriate. As athletes mature and their competency improves, we layer more challenging patterns and demands — always with a long-term goal in mind.
Step Five — Periodic Testing: Tracking Progress and Staying Accountable
Mid-term, we reassess to answer the questions every parent and athlete wants to know:
“Is my child improving?”
“Is the program working?”
Athletes undergo a structured review, and parents are provided with clear feedback on:
Improvements in movement skills
Growth and maturation
Strength, coordination, and speed development
Next steps for the athlete’s long-term pathway
This ensures communication stays clear, transparent, and athlete-centred.
Step Six — It Takes a Village: The Support Network Behind Every Athlete
Long-term success isn’t just about what happens in the gym.
Our Junior Development Program is supported by:
Sports Dietitians, guiding fuelling for growth, performance, and recovery
Physiotherapists, supporting movement, managing growing pains, preventing injuries
Parent Education Webinars, helping families understand each stage of their child’s development
Collaboration with External Coaches, ensuring everyone works together for the athlete’s benefit
This is our “village” approach. When everyone is aligned around the athlete, the results are stronger, safer, and more sustainable.
Your Child’s Journey Starts With One Step… the JAMA
To begin the roadmap, every athlete completes the Junior Athletic Movement Assessment (JAMA) - our entry point to understanding your child’s unique growth stage, physical literacy, and movement foundation.
Book your JAMA today and start your child’s long-term athletic journey with the right guidance, the right program, and the right support team behind them.
