The Train to Train stage of the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model typically includes ages 12–16, and marks a key period for developing athletic potential.

During this stage, athletes experience significant physical growth and are introduced to more structured and specialized training aimed at improving strength, endurance, speed, and sport-specific skills.

The focus shifts to building a strong anaerobic base, refining technical abilities, and learning more advanced tactics and strategies. It’s also a critical time to reinforce proper training habits, mental skills, and recovery strategies.

While competition becomes more important, training is prioritized over winning, with long-term development as the primary goal.

Athletes may begin to narrow their sport choices, but maintaining some degree of sport variety is still encouraged to support overall athletic growth and reduce burnout or overuse injuries.