Novice
PG Blizzard skaters who have mastered the FUNdamentals continue to develop their skating skills as they move into the Novice group. Novice skaters spend more time on ice each week and have a more structured skating program that is based around the LTPAD Learning to Train (L2T) category. The L2T stage is considered to be the most important stage in athlete development, as this is where sport specific skills (technique) are developed and athletes begin to compete at a higher level than in the FUNdamental group. While competition is important in the development of all athletes, the focus of the Novice group continues to be on athlete development and skill acquisition. The Novice group practices at the same time as the Intermediate group.
Intermediate Group
Skaters in the Intermediate group bridge two categories in the LTPAD – Learn to Train (L2T) and Train to Train (T2T). In the T2T stage, programs become more individualized and tailored to an athlete’s individual growth and development as these skaters are entering or have entered puberty. Skaters are becoming athletes at this stage and require a significant amount of aerobic training and sport specific skill acquisition. In the later stage of T2T, strength and anaerobic training is introduced, as are increased training time and encouragement to attend higher levels of competition. In the Blizzard program, the movement to the Intermediate group occurs as Novice skaters develop their skills and begin to mature.
PG Blizzard skaters who have mastered the FUNdamentals continue to develop their skating skills as they move into the Novice group. Novice skaters spend more time on ice each week and have a more structured skating program that is based around the LTPAD Learning to Train (L2T) category. The L2T stage is considered to be the most important stage in athlete development, as this is where sport specific skills (technique) are developed and athletes begin to compete at a higher level than in the FUNdamental group. While competition is important in the development of all athletes, the focus of the Novice group continues to be on athlete development and skill acquisition. The Novice group practices at the same time as the Intermediate group.
Intermediate Group
Skaters in the Intermediate group bridge two categories in the LTPAD – Learn to Train (L2T) and Train to Train (T2T). In the T2T stage, programs become more individualized and tailored to an athlete’s individual growth and development as these skaters are entering or have entered puberty. Skaters are becoming athletes at this stage and require a significant amount of aerobic training and sport specific skill acquisition. In the later stage of T2T, strength and anaerobic training is introduced, as are increased training time and encouragement to attend higher levels of competition. In the Blizzard program, the movement to the Intermediate group occurs as Novice skaters develop their skills and begin to mature.