With this thought in mind, René Wormhoudt, founder of the Athletic Skills Model, begon rethinking movement as early as 1995 at AFC Ajax. This idea, in collaboratie with Prof. Dr. Geert Savelsbergh of VU Amsterdam, led to the development of a new talent development model, originally designed for sports. Over time, the vision behind this model has been adapted to various domains and target groups, supporting the development of movement skills for all individuals.
The ASM is a practical, science-based talent development framework for elite sports, recreational and unstructured sports, Physical Education, healthcare and the arts and culture. Optimal development is achieved when all stakeholders work align with a well-founded vision, placing the mover at the centre. This new way of thinking about movement serves as the foundation for high-quality exercise programmes.
René Wormhoudt is a physiotherapist with 24 years of experience working with both the youth academy and first team of AFC Ajax. From 2005 to 2012, he introduced and implemented the ASM philosophy within the club’s youth academy, while simultaneously serving as the strength & conditioning coach for the first team from 2003 to 2012. Beyond football, René has extensive experience in a variety of sports, including basketball, handball, swimming, and American football. Since 2012, he has worked with multiple national team coaches as the strength and conditioning coach for the Dutch Football National Team (KNVB). He is also the CEO of the Athletic Skills Company.
Prof. Dr. Geert Savelsbergh is a professor in the Human Movement Sciences Department at VU Amsterdam. He also serves as a lecturer in Talent Development at the University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam and is one of two scientific supervisors for team sports at NOC*NSF. His research focuses on perceptual-motor learning and the identification of key performance indicators—such as visual scanning and game intelligence—for talent identification and development. In addition to his academic work, he has extensive experience as a youth football coach and has a strong affinity for various ball sports, including football, tennis, cricket, hockey, and golf.
Technological advancements, such as mobile phones, video games, and digital media, have shaped a new movement culture in which outdoor play is no longer a primary activity. As a result, children are spending more time sitting and engaging in less physical activity. They miss out on the joy of movement, are more likely to stop exercising at a young age, and often lack motivation to stay active later in life.
Not only do we move too little, but our movement is often too one-sided. This is a growing social issue with serious consequences for health, fitness, creativity, and sports performance. Poor motor development increases the risk of health problems and injuries, highlighting the urgent need for more diverse and active movement opportunities.
By focusing on skills, concepts, and competencies, a wide range of activities—including play, exercises, and different sports—can contribute to optimal talent development. The Athletic Skills Model introduces a unique structure for versatility through Adaptive Training, Donor Sports, and Multisports. Skills and solutions learned in one sport are consciously and unconsciously transferred to others, creating positive cross-training effects in technical, tactical, physical, strategic, and mental aspects.
With this targeted approach, training programmes can be customised for any sport, movement discipline, skill level, or individual—ensuring inclusive and adaptable programmes for all movers.
Many well-known elite athletes have participated in multiple sports, which has positively influenced their career. For example, Zlatan Ibrahimović practiced taekwondo in his youth. As a result, he developed better falling techniques, enhanced creativity in duels, and improved kicking skills and spatial awareness, contributing to his overall versatility. This understanding serves as the inspiration behind the development of the ASM, designed to benefit athletes of all levels across all sports and forms of exercise and physical activity.
Rather than focusing solely on elite sports, the ASM is for all movers at every level. Talent development is not limited to elite athletes—it applies to everyone.
Early specialisation or one-sided physical training increases the risk of injuries, overuse, and loss of strength. For healthy and well-rounded development, it is essential to incorporate a wide range of fundamental basic movement skills across sports, games, exercises, and activities. This approach leads to better performance, fewer injuries, enhanced creativity, and greater enjoyment in sports and physical activity.
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