Sport Canada`s Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) is a framework for full sport system alignment in Canada, integrating health and education with sport and physical activity. The LTAD is an eight-stage model based on the physical, mental, emotional and cognitive development of children and adolescents. Each stage reflects a different point in athlete development. The first three stages encourage physical literacy and sport experiences for all. The next four stages focus on competitive excellence and the final stage encourages life-long physical activity. Following is a general overview of the LTAD progression for cross-country skiing.