But unfortunately, the number of Canadian kids playing sports has been dwindling for several years.

According to a June 2008 Statistics Canada article on kids’ sports, the percentage of kids between the ages of five and 14 participating in organized sports fell from 57 per cent in 1992 to 51 per cent in 2005. Boys’ participation in the same age group dropped a full 10 per cent—from 66 per cent in 1992 to 56 per cent in 2005.

Many factors are contributing to the decline, but one important factor that sometimes gets overlooked is physical literacy.

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What is Physical Literacy?
Just as kids need to develop their reading and writing literacy, they also need to develop their physical literacy.

Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) program, a federal government initiative from Sport Canada, defines physical literacy as a sound foundation of fundamental movement and sports skills.

Physical literacy means developing proficiency in agility, balance, coordination and speed; being able to move comfortably in different environments such as on the ground or in the water; and mastering specific skills such as throwing and catching a ball, riding a bike and skating.

“Many children develop good physical skills on their own by trial-and-error, but many do not,” reports the LTAD program’s Developing Physical Literacy guide for parents. “Children tell us that not having the skills to play is one major reason they drop out of physical activity and organized sport.”

The Canadian LTAD program recommends that kids develop physical literacy from birth to 11 or 12 years old with the help of parents, teachers, coaches and other adult leaders. If kids become physically literate, they’re more likely to be physically active as both kids and adults, and this will help them stave off health problems such as obesity.

“Kids often drop out of sports and physical activity in the teen years,” explains Colin Higgs, a professor in the School of Human Kinetics and Recreation at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and a member of the expert group for the LTAD program. “But if they have those physical skills, if they know they can do it, when they get to be 25 and putting on a few pounds or noticing they’re out of shape, knowing they can do it means they’re much more likely to go down to the gym or the park or the pool.”

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Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Program
Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) program is a federal government initiative from Sport Canada that would like to see physical literacy instilled in all Canadian children.

LTAD itself is not just a program in Canada, but a philosophy gaining traction around the world in countries such as New Zealand, Australia and the U.K.

With “athlete” in the title, LTAD might sound like it wants to turn all children into athletes, but this is not the case.

“It gives children the tools they need to be active in later life for health and enjoyment,” says Higgs. “It also lays the groundwork for later athletic excellence for that small percentage of the population with the talent, drive and desire to take it as far as it goes.”

“It’s more than serving the elite athlete,” adds Vicki Harber, a professor at the University of Alberta Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation and an LTAD presenter. “It’s about nurturing a lifelong relationship with physical activity.”

LTAD’s approach to physical literacy is that kids need to develop skills at their own rate.

“Skills are age-related, but not age-dependent,” explains Harber. “(For example) 10-year-olds learn skills at different rates even though they’re all 10 years old. So it’s about enabling children to learn at their own rate of readiness. This is important because it breeds success and self-confidence. You instill in the child that essential, intrinsic knowledge that they can do it.”

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LTAD’s approach to physical literacy and athlete development in general is significantly different than much of the practices currently in place in Canada. And implementing LTAD will require a lot of time and work, says Harber. For example, each national sport organization needs to review its practices and adapt LTAD to its sport. And coach education needs to be reviewed and adapted to the LTAD framework.

But, over the long-term, LTAD and its approach to physical literacy may be just the thing that gets Canadian kids back into sports and physical activity and happy to be there.

“We can’t help but end up with healthy Canadians and increase success in international competition,” says Harber, “and that strikes me as a win-win situation.”

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Learn More
Long-Term Athlete Development: Canadian Sport for Life
Geared towards parents, coaches, educators and anyone else working with children, this website from the Canadian Sport Centres gives an excellent overview of what LTAD is and how to implement it with children of any age. The site also provides contact information for LTAD experts across the country who deliver presentations on LTAD.

Developing Physical Literacy: A Guide for Parents of Children Ages 0 to 12
An excellent guide on physical literacy from Canada’s LTAD program. Learn more about why physical literacy is important and how to help children develop physical literacy.

Active Healthy Kids Canada
Active Healthy Kids Canada is a charity aiming for “a nation of active, healthy kids.” The organization publishes an annual report card on the physical activity levels of Canadian children and youth, which you can access on this website.

Canadian Social Trends Number 85: Kids’ Sports
This article from Statistics Canada looks at trends in Canadian kids’ participation in organized sports.