The three dimension model for grassroots sport: An opportunity to transform coaches professional practice with the use of Olympic Values Education Program in Puerto Rico

Abstract

Sports in an important cultural expression in human society. In Puerto Rico has been a cultural value for all society 2. Benefits for sports participant has been documented in physical, psychological and social dimension 23. But sports grant opportunity in the Island has provoke a high performance approach toward grassroots sports. This traditional pyramidal approach has been identified with one of the sport dropout causes. Therefore sedentarism and eventually child obesity has been related to sport dropout. A professional practice paradigm shift is needed in the grassroots sports to a more holistic approach. In this document a Three Dimension Model (3DM) is been suggested as a strategy to transform the actual Puerto Rico grassroots sports coaches medal approach. The 3DM is the first effort to formally state a "wake up call" toward the high performance approach in Puerto Rico's grassroots sports. The model suggest the combination of Balyi's Long-Term Athlete Development 4 with the Olympic Values Education Program (OVEP) 15 to proper impact body and mind of young athletes.