Adolescent learners are not miniature versions of adult athletes. During adolescence, learners move through a period of rapid growth and maturation — physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and identity-based — often anchored around peak height velocity (PHV), and this happens alongside shifting motivation, peer influence, and social development, all at once. This developmental turbulence shapes how young people experience physical education, coaching, and sport — from motor skill acquisition and fundamental movement skills (FMS) to how they read feedback, competition, and belonging within a group.

The goal of this hands-on workshop is for teachers and coaches to design educational experiences grounded in an adolescent developmental approach, informed by principles of Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) and growth and maturation science. Participants will examine how individual differences in biological maturation, motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic), identity formation, peer influence, and social belonging affect participation, engagement, and learning in physical activity settings. Using this lens, participants will then redesign an existing PE or sport activity they already teach or coach, applying developmentally appropriate principles of skill acquisition and psychosocial development.

The fundamental question to ask is this: What does the experience want from the learner?