
Youth Sports Performance
Sports performance is the mode of measuring an athlete’s performance in a sport. According to the definition of sports performance in the encyclopedia, there are four distinct aspects of sports performance:
Neuromuscular Factors

Mental Control & Psychological

Environmental Conditions

External Athlete Support

Developing young athletes participating in a sport should not be compared to an adult playing sports. Measurements of youth sports performance are different than adults. These measurements can be affected by many factors: the age of engagement in sports, skill level, health, motor skill development, and sports-specific movement of a sport. Achieving peak athletic sports performance for youth depends on assessing these factors, which can affect sports performance. Identifying and evaluating the baseline skill level of the athlete is essential to determine areas of improvement.
Properly assessing physical weakness or movement inefficiencies can reduce or prevent potential injuries while improving athleticism with the timing of mechanics in movement.

Sports Performance Training
Sports Performance Training trains the athlete through movements and exercises that are similar to the sport played. A good program identifies areas that need improving and implements training specifically for that athlete's age of development. Improving overall athleticism means focusing on these key areas: strength, speed, power, coordination, balance, flexibility, mobility, recovery while also improving the competence and confidence of the athlete. Athlete deficiencies of the basic fundamental skills of movement and coordination during repetitive training through sports-specific movements can lead to poor performance, injuries, frustration, and possibly burnout. The GAP training program identifies age-appropriate solutions and assesses the athlete's foundation to enhance sports-specific training.
Youth Sports Development
Long-Term Athlete Development
DYA NETWORK AND THE LONG-TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT
The DYA Network principles are built on and support the LTAD model. We understand the benefits of sports in child development and believe that any great program that focuses on youth athlete development should do precisely that: Develop the Young Athlete. Understanding age-appropriate training levels: FUNdamentals, Train to Train, Train to Compete, and Train to Win are some of the stages that the LTAD have identified that can lead to long healthy life sports participation. Our mission incorporates these concepts. Early exposure to fun sports-related activities combined with physical literacy may influence a kids’ decisions to participate in sports in high school, college, or the professional level.



What is Physical Literacy?
Fundamental Movement Skills





