Through a variety of sports and pastimes you will continue to develop the passion to grow and develop as an athlete. Developing the skills of cycling that support future, long term performance.

Diversity in training and competition environments will ensure both long term and elite sport participation in sport. If considered as an age group, you will be 14 – 16 years of age.

Riders develop at a different rates, age & stage appropriate training & competition matters here.

You will be growing and developing the ability to:

• Continue to participate in an engaging and enjoyable sports experience that develops technical and tactical aspects of cycling. Working hard to gain improvement to gain confidence will ensure an enjoyable experience;
• Work on aspects of development through a range of disciplines and skill development will better prepare you for future performance;
• Continue to build connections;
• Ensure the experience is yours, autonomy is important;
• Ensure that specialisation is implemented effectively, it is very important that you get time away from sport to recharge batteries, heal up physically, and refocus. Where practical, pursue other interests, hobbies, and passions;
• Develop character that will be important in delivering future performance, specifically the development of grit, resilience, integrity, empathy, respect, and other traits;
• Ensure a long term view to your development;
• Focus on the development of movement through a diverse range of activities to improve motor skills and bone health, activities that support multi-directional movement are great;
• Be an active learner where multiple experiences foster development.

As an emerging athlete personal and interpersonal attributes of performance should be beginning to develop and will begin to show in the various aspects of life. With the support of coaches, parents and other role models you should be continuing to develop these attributes to ensure success in life.

Enjoyment is the cornerstone of long term participation and as an emerging cyclist, it is important to retain this enjoyment and passion for the sport. Doing something out of love and enjoyment rather than obligation will ensure that you continue to develop a strong work ethic that supports quality performance.

It is exciting to start to see the benefits of foundation training while continuing to see and feel yourself improving, developing competence or getting better. Focusing on learning and refining the skills and attributes of cycling will see you on the path to improvement and mastery which is an important aspect to developing courage and confidence in the sport.

Confidence is another pillar that supports long term engagement in sport and will come as you develop and improve your skills.  At this level it is important that coaches and parents are continuing to ensure that you grow in confidence through reinforcing the process of improvement.

Cycling is a unique sport with a dynamic blend of individual and team engagement. The ability to connect with others and contribute to the culture of the team will make the experience more fun and engaging for everyone. After some time in the sport, you will begin to be familiar with other riders in your club, age group and/or discipline; by reaching out and making connections with others you are contributing to a more positive race and riding environment.

Autonomy is also an important attribute to continue to develop at the emerging level of cycling. The sense of ownership over an experience or goals will drive to you to continue riding and improving your skills. This will equip you with a higher level of independence which is important in high performing athletes.

As an athlete with high performance aspirations, grit, resilience, integrity, empathy and respect are all characteristic traits that will not only drive you to reach those higher levels but will also factor into selection processes across all aspects of your life. It may feel like harsh criticism at times but know that it is all in an effort to build you into a strong, confident athlete.

We know that when people with developing or little experience go through the process of making decisions, they do not always get it right. With that in mind it is important that you, as an emerging rider, have the opportunity to make and reflect on decisions living with the consequences whether they are positive or negative.
Receiving feedback and reviews of these decisions from coaches and parents with support to progress will lead to higher levels of decision making.

Well-rounded sporting experience

• Build a culture around the “enjoyment of the sport” rather than a need for wining right here and right now!
• Develop an attitude of celebrating the success of teammates and work to contribute to that success
• Work on mental skills within a sporting setting
  • Cooperation
  • Communication
  • Leadership
  • How to deal with below par/expected training and racing performances
  • How to deal graciously with success!
  • Concepts of periodisation
    • For on-bike training
    • For gym work
    • With nutrition
  • Injury and illness challenges – dealing with setback in training/races

Encourage interests outside of cycling

• Athletes who base their identity and self-confidence upon their sporting status can get into emotional and mental health difficulties if/when their performance is compromised
• Develop connections to other aspects of society
  • Eg schools; volunteer work
• Further study – ideas of life after cycling
• Another “passion” – support from sport for this – eg PM Scholarships

Delay specialisation into cycling until at least 16yo

• Early cycling (and swimming) specialisation can inhibit appropriate bone development
• Encourage participation in limb loading sports
  • Lower limb bone development – running and jumping sports
  • Upper limb bone development – gymnastics, boxing, sports with regular falls – eg rugby
• Encourage participation in team based sports
  • Develop communication/compromise skills

Connection with family

• Keep family contact an important part of athlete’s development and progression

Invite families to see training at the velodrome during “block” training camps

• You will receive support through local programmes delivered through clubs and schools;
• The focus will be on encouragement that supports a lifelong commitment to sport;
• You will be able to access Cycling New Zealand Development activities that begin to shape direction and development;
• Balance across school, sport and life continues to be important in ensuring a long tern commitment to sport;
• For those who are delivering a high level of race performance, skill delivery and demonstrate a high level of coachability, may be invited to join the Performance Hub system.

Create an environment where young athletes can further develop the passion and love of the cycling in a safe, enjoyable learning environment.

Coaches will have a focus on:

• Ensuring the development environment has at its core a focus on Balance that is managed through sampling and diversity;
• Creating a safe, balanced and fun learning environment that ensures long-term participation in sport;
• Improving delivery of skill that leads to improvement in performance which will improve confidence;
• Continuing a planned and long term view to athlete development;
• The foundations of tactical awareness through training and multiple competition opportunities;
• The development of key mental skills requirements to support athlete development;
• Working on aspects of development through a range of disciplines and skill development will become more focussed on events and the improvement of performance;
• The ongoing development of positive team dynamics which becomes more important for future performance;
• The development of autonomy enables quality decision making for young athletes;
• The ongoing development of character supports the development of grit, resilience, integrity, empathy, respect, and other traits that help them find future success;
• Developing the core physiological attributes of strength, power and endurance in an age and stage appropriate manner.