FTEM Framework

Foundation: Talent: Elite: Mastery: (FTEM)

We all participate in sport for many different reasons:

• some are interested in maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle
• others love the thrill of competing with their friends
• a rare few set their sights on winning medals for their country.

Whatever the motivation we are on a pathway, although sometimes the pathway chooses us. The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has developed the Foundations, Talent, Elite and Mastery framework (FTEM framework) to capture these different pathways.

FTEM provides a practical tool to assist sporting stakeholders (National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) and their personnel, coaches, teachers, parents etc.) in reviewing, planning and supporting athlete pathways. The framework consists of four macro phases of athlete development (Foundation, Talent, Elite and Mastery), which are further differentiated into 10 micro phases.

Key Messages 
1. FTEM provides an organisational framework that sporting stakeholders can use to plan and implement strategies and programs to assist participants. 
2. FTEM stages are not age dependent, but depend upon acquisition/mastery of skills, accumulated experiences, and performance outcomes.