Our goal at Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy (TSG) is to achieve all-round development by helping budding golfers reach their full potential using a systematic, progressive approach based on the Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD) model. With its emphasis on long-term development rather than immediate achievement, this approach signifies a substantial change in how sports are taught. LTAD was developed as a planned developmental pathway to assist athletes at all levels in realizing their maximum potential.
Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD): What is it?
The LTAD model, created by Istvan Balyi and Richard Way, focuses on the methodical growth of athletes over time. The goal is to ensure that athletes have the chance to succeed in their chosen sport—whether for top competition or lifetime involvement. The model has seven stages:
- Active Start,
- Fundamentals,
- Learn to Train,
- Train to Train,
- Train to Compete,
- Train to Win,
- and Active for Life.
Every stage focuses on participation, training, competition, and rehabilitation while addressing a particular stage in an athlete’s growth. LTAD aims to give athletes good, developmentally appropriate experiences that will help them grow mentally and physically and lay a solid basis for their future.
TSG’s Dedication to LTAD
To guarantee the comprehensive growth of our young golfers, we at TSG completely accept the LTAD principles. Our academy, led by former professional golfer Tarun Sardesai, strongly emphasizes individualized teaching programs that follow the LTAD structure. By emphasizing long-term development, we go beyond conventional “one-size-fits-all” lessons and make sure our pupils advance methodically.
Our plans for long-term growth entails far more than merely teaching golf. The academy covers every facet of a golfer’s journey, including daily practice schedules, motivation, mental toughness, and nutrition. The “what, why, when, and how” of the game is taught to the students, and a strong emphasis is placed on helping them comprehend and manage their workload both
on and off the course. They train with pre- and post-round routines instilled in them and focus on nutrition to improve recovery and performance.
At TSG, we implement this systematically to ensure the holistic development of our young golfers tailored to meet the specific needs of children at each level of their development:
- Active Start (Ages 1-6): Focuses on children aged 1-6 years, encouraging early engagement with basic physical activities and ensuring they develop fundamental movement skills.
- Fundamentals (Ages 6-9): Targets kids aged 6-9, where the emphasis is on balancing fun with basic skill development. Activities during this phase focus on coordination, motor skills, and technical aspects of various sports.
- Learn to Train (Ages 9-12): For children aged 9-12, this stage focuses on refining skills while introducing more structured training to enhance strength, balance, and agility.
- Train to Train (Ages 12-16): Young athletes in the 12-16 age group are trained to develop athletic competence across a variety of sports, preventing burnout and reducing the risk of injury while mastering key techniques.
- Train to Compete (Ages 16+): Designed for athletes above the age of 16, this phase prepares them to compete at a higher level, blending advanced technical and tactical skills with mental conditioning.
- Train to Win: This stage is reserved for professional athletes aiming to perfect their performance and compete at elite levels.
- Active for Life: Tailored for those who have reached retirement age, this stage focuses on maintaining physical activity as a lifelong habit, promoting overall health and wellness.
At TSG, we believe in gradually increasing pressure on each child based on their capacity. For kids under 9, training is focused on balancing sports with key physical activities such as technical development, motor skills enhancement, and coordination. By exposing students to multiple sports, we aim to build their overall strength, balance, and endurance, which not only helps them excel in golf but also minimizes the risk of injuries and burnout. And for the athletes above the age of 12 are more driven towards attaining the skills required for tournaments and competitions(discipline being a very major part of it).
Our LTAD approach goes beyond physical training. We incorporate three strength sessions and two conditioning sessions weekly, ensuring that each child develops a strong foundation of belief, confidence, and logical understanding of the sport. Additionally, recovery plays a vital role in our program. We provide recovery sessions that include weekly physiotherapy, ice baths, and two swimming pool sessions to rejuvenate and relax the body after intense practices. These sessions help release tension and restore energy, preparing the athletes for their upcoming challenges on the course.
The LTAD approach is included in TSG’s coaching philosophy to provide young golfers with an organized, long-term environment in which to grow. This is the TSG way of ensuring that every young golfer not only develops in the game but life also.
