The word athletic is an adjective used to describe someone that is healthy, strong, and able to perform energetic movements. While this has connotations of organised sports participation, it does not necessarily exclusively represent those involved in Sports. For example, someone could be described as athletic without participating in any particular sport. In addition, there might be instances where individuals involved in sports are potentially not who we might typically describe as “athletic”, meaning they do not appear to possess characteristics associated with being healthy, strong, and able to perform energetic movements! Therefore, no one should be put off by the term athletic. if we are to park the aspect of the definition of athletic that relates to “energetic movement”, and indeed “strong”, what we are left with is being healthy. This is a far more encouraging place to start with our definition for the term athletic development.
For any number of reasons, Sports, in the traditional sense, are not for every child. Many will not find enjoyment from organised sports such as football, netball, rugby, tennis and so on. Instead, it might be that alternative activities, or “lifestyle sports”, such as skateboarding, bike riding, or parkour – those that are not formally organised, capture one’s interest to a far greater degree.
At the initial stage, therefore, athletic development should be considered the early foundations for physical activity. Importantly, the foundations formed can then be layered upon with other forms of physical activity, serving to further increase levels of athletic development. For example, improved competence in a range of basic movement skills, such as throwing and catching, skipping and running, jumping and tumbling. As competency in such skills grows, as does the the level of athletic development of young individuals. This forms a habit of physical activity and better physical health and, as we have come to believe, associated improvement to mental well-being.
From childhood through adolescence, and into young adulthood and beyond, early positive experiences of physical activity as well as the addition of more challenging and advanced skills, equips individuals with the necessary tools to engage with lifelong physical activity.
This is athletic development.