For everyone to benefit from LTD in sport & physical activity, we need to remove barriers to participation & performance, & help make our systems more effective.

Some current system shortcomings:

• Differences in developmental age are ignored when sport is organized using chronological age groups.
• Not all sport facilities & programs are accessible or welcoming to low-income & nontraditional participants.
• Athlete preparation is geared to the short-term outcome — winning — & not to the development process.
• Fundamental movement skills & foundation sport skills are not taught properly.
• Multi-sport program options are not readily available.
• Positive values that develop character are not intentionally integrated into the sport experience.
• Drop out rates for youth are high—particularly for girls.