Training the Youth Athlete
Chat Williams discusses his professional experience training youth. I don’t believe he intended to get so involved with youth, but once he started this part of his mentoring took off. “Properly designed weight training programs are safe for children because they are performed with specific movements and allow for an adaptive training response. Progressive resistances are used by increasing the load in small increments with adequate recovery, allowing for an adaptive training response. These adaptations occur even when exercises involve explosive motions designed to mimic the demands of athletic movements” (ExRx.net, 2010). Chat knows what to do and when to adjust training variables.
Specific …show more content…
Ages
When it comes to training specific ages, Chat has experience training most youth ages.
The age is not what really matters though, it is maturity, “Training loads can be precisely scaled to the ability of the child and each exercise can be performed within a predefined technic” (ExRx.net, 2010). Chad does not talk much on testing except that he does periodization test with his youth about every six months. Just enough to give them an extra boost of encouragement, and also so they can see what improvements they have made.
Long Term Success
At the end of the day rather the child wants to pursuer sports of not, Chat will train them. Both kids and parents alike love the rewards of being fit. “We can attempt to create a better experience for all involved, kids, parents, coaches, scouts and recruiters by doing what we can to analyze and predict long-term sports success. By quantifying the athletic talent required for success, we can help parents harness their enthusiasm, focus their expenditures and spend more time enjoying the childhood and youth sports experience” (Hutton MA & Twist, 2007).
I agree with Chad and the information he put out in this podcast. Parents who understand the athletic attributes needed for sports can allow children to enjoy their athletic development as they follow the right steps to improve their sports abilities. (Hutton MA & Twist, 2007). We all want the best for our …show more content…
kids.
What I do not agree is that to make a great athlete that a child needs anything more than the encouragement of their parents and an active school life full of music arts sports and also during the summer break. I don’t think that everyone should go out and hire a professional trainer for their children. Most of our great athletes today got where they are with lots of perseverance and dedication.
My Thoughts and Feelings
“A lot of parents hope their child will receive an athletic scholarship, not just to help finance expensive postsecondary education, but also as a prestigious feather-in-the-cap for both the proud parents and the youth” (Hutton MA & Twist, 2007).
I blame the government and the schools for our children not being as healthy and fit that they should be. More schools now make parents pay for any type of physical activity or school sport. Key word SCHOOL, now with less parents able to afford to pay for their child’s afterschool programs. It puts a whole damper on the idea of playing sports. Team sports also help children develop life changing skills like teamwork and conflict and problem solving. When I was in high school, my school district was not known to have much money, but every year of school from third grade until graduation, I was more than encouraged to participate in a sport. My parents didn’t have to pay for anything. It’s so sad how kids today have nothing athletic going on. The few kids who do want to better themselves are then placed under more pressure because it cost money. They can’t just play sports to have fun anymore. I rather coach a team of ten-year old’s with no side coaching or special training than a mix of those who do and those who don’t. Raw talent is now being manipulated. If it were free then I would not argue this. I find myself asking my daughter “I hope you really want to play soccer because it’s not free” I wish I could say “Sure try it out, and
if it’s not for you, at least you tried your best.
References
Bompa, T. O., & Bompa, T. O. (2009). Periodization: Theory and methodology of training (5th ed.).
ExRx.net. (2010). Weight Training for Specific Populations: Youth. Retrieved from http://www.exrx.net/WeightTraining/Weightlifting/Youth.html
Hutton, MA, J., & Twist, P. (2007). Identifying, Understanding and Training Youth Athletes. IDEA Fitness Journal.