ROWING IS A SPORT FOR LIFE
For recreation. For competition. For mentorship.
For a lifetime.
The current version of the American Development Model (ADM) offers youth and collegiate athletes a sustainable roadmap towards life-long participation in our sport, whether it be recreational, competitive, or high performance. The ADM addresses the central issue facing every developing rower: while maintaining enjoyment of the sport and holistic well-being,” or something more positive than “sacrificing”. To provide athletes with the best opportunity for success as they define it, rowers, coaches, parents, and other stakeholders should understand how chronological age, developmental age, and training age influence appropriate athlete development at each stage of physical, mental, and social maturation.
Future enhancements to the ADM will include dedicated pathways for both masters and adaptive athletes.
ADM STAGES
The ADM, originally conceived by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, is “designed to create a healthy sport experience and support an athlete’s advancement based on their physical, mental and emotional level, and potential for growth.” USRowing has adapted the USOPC’s ADM model extensively for our sport-specific use cases
ADM CORE PRINCIPLES
- Universal access to create opportunity for all athletes
- Developmentally-appropriate activities that emphasize motor and foundational skill development
- Encouragement of multi-sport participation
- A fun, engaging, and challenging environment
- Quality coaching at all levels
ADM GOALS
- Grow the general athlete population and the pool of elite athletes for selecting future U.S. Olympians and Paralympians
- Develop fundamental skills that transfer across sports
- Provide appropriate avenues to fulfill an individual’s athletic potential
- Create a generation of life-long athletes that love sport and physical activity, and transfer that passion to the next generation