PLAYER-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Ontario Nationals’ approach to player development is built on the principles of Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), as outlined by Sport Canada and adapted by Baseball Canada. Our Player-Centered Development model focuses on long-term growth, age-appropriate training, and consistent skill progression.

Our mission is to provide the highest standard in player development. That means prioritizing training and fundamentals over early competition, especially in the younger age groups. Athletes thrive when given time to build skills through purposeful reps, not rushed results.

Development begins in our Junior Nats offseason training program (10U-13U), where athletes focus on athleticism, technical skill, and high-volume training in a supportive environment. At 13U, players may continue in Junior Nats or join one of our teams, transitioning into the next phase of development with our full-time Ontario Nationals program (13U-18U).

From 14U to 15U, athletes enter the High School Prep phase, which emphasizes position-specific training, increased physical development, and exposure to elite-level competition. At 16U to 18U, players move into our College-Ready phase, where we focus on high-level competition, advanced game strategy, mental performance, and showcase readiness—preparing athletes to pursue opportunities at the collegiate or professional level.

By the time a player completes their 18U season, they’ve developed strong technical foundations—throwing, fielding, running, and hitting—and the resilience to compete under pressure, adapt to challenges, and keep growing.

Most importantly, they understand that they are in control of their own development—and that consistent, intentional improvement is what drives long-term success.

Stamina, Speed, Skill, Strength, Suppleness, Structure/Stature, Psychology, Sustenance, Schooling (Stress), Socio-cultural.

Long-term development encourages players to enjoy the game and improve performances. This program for young athletes is designed to promote lifelong enjoyment of athletic activity, provide a structured player development pathway, describe best practices for elite players and create long-term excellence.

Scientific research has determined that it takes at least 10 years and 10,000 hours of training for athletes in any sport to reach elite performance. Research has also shown that baseball players reach their peak as an athlete at 27 years of age.

The key components impacting LTAD for Baseball in Canada can be broadly categorized under: player development, coaching, leadership and organization, competition and facilities.

It is not easy to implement this program. It will take patience to educate parents, coaches and players. This system has always been in place for Baseball Canada but the value has not been put in place yet or followed by any elite program. Baseball Canada has a vision and the Ontario Nationals baseball organization will now implement it for the first time.

Here is another list below that shows that the high risk of elite achievement is seen as a higher priority than lifelong wellness for young baseball players:

• Young players over-compete and under-train.
• Competition-to-training ratios are too high, particularly in the early years.
• Young players often follow adult training and competition schedules.
• Girls and women are joining baseball in increasing numbers and young female players primarily follow programs designed for boys and men.
• Training/practice in the developmental years often focuses on winning and not on development (short-term result versus long-term process).
• Chronological age influences coaching and selection rather than biological age (physical maturation).
• The so-called critical periods of accelerated adaptation are under-utilized.
• Poorly planned programs between the ages of 6-16 result in athletes never reaching their genetic potential.
• The "best" coaches are encouraged to work at elite levels they are not recognized as essential to the success of develop- mental programs in novice groups.
• Coach education tends to provide only a superficial under- standing of the growth, maturation, and development stages of young players.
• There is no integration between physical education programs in the school system, community recreational programs, and elite competitive programs.

Finally, the development of an enduring and effective process that meets core principles and goals will require a commitment to continuous improvement and an ongoing reach for excellence. It is time to make a change. Baseball is changing, athletes are changing; this is the right way. Change will only be effective for Baseball when we change what we believe, what we do and how we do it.”

CLICK HERE for further details on the Long Term Development Program for young athletes.