| [close window] |
By, Paul H. Landi, ACSM-HFS/USAW-SPC at Moore
January 5, 2010
When it comes to training today’s young athletes, we often hear the phrase “train like a pro”. While this sounds appealing to help athletes excel on the field, it is important to understand that youth athletes’ bodies are significantly different than that of a mature adult. They are different not only in size and strength, but also in the sense that neural, hormonal, and cardiovascular systems are still developing. Each athlete has his/her own identity with his/her own special needs. These needs are greatly determined by chronological age, biological or developmental age, and the gender of the athlete, among others.
If these needs and differences are not taken into consideration when designing a program, young athletes will not only under achieve in their immediate potential, but they can also become more susceptible to injury.
Chronological age is the term used to describe a person in months or years. However, stages of maturity or pubertal development are better assessed by the “biological age”, which can be measured in terms of skeletal age, physique, or sexual maturity. For example, two girls on a team may have the same chronological age, but differ by several years in their biological age. The assessment of maturation in athletes is important for several reasons. Maturity assessment can be used to evaluate growth and development patterns in children. Since the degree of maturation is related to measures of fitness including muscular strength and motor skills performance, techniques used to assess maturation can help match athletes for fitness testing and athletic competition.
What constitutes appropriate strength training and metabolic conditioning for a young athlete is determined and specific to the individual’s stage of physical development. The athletes’ bodies will respond in several facets. They could gain better neuro-muscular control and therefore seem to have improved strength, when actually they have just become more efficient at using what they already had. If the athlete’s body has matured enough to already have gained this control, they will actually improve tensile strength (ability to withstand stress on fibers) in musculature and improve cardiovascular response (heart will not need to work so hard, as early).
The emotional and psychological maturity of the individual is another important factor to consider when designing and implementing strength training for a young athlete. Obviously, the athlete’s attention span will become a factor. In addition, the mental stress that a strength program can put on an individual also has to be considered. Challenging a young athlete to meet performance goals needs to be put aside and replaced with having them reach for small “achievements” instead. This can be as simple as improving their balance, or helping them to complete a footwork sequence without stumbling. The goal should be to set the athlete up to succeed, instead of challenging them not to fail. Their enjoyment of the process will be an important factor in how successful the program is, and how much they improve.
While there has been concern regarding the potential negative consequences of intensive training on growth and maturation, there is no clear evidence that physical training delays or accelerates growth or maturation in boys and girls. Provided the child is properly nourished, receives an age appropriate fitness program, and proper guidance to progress safely, young athletes can see many of the same benefits pros do when they are looking to improve their performance on the field.
Please feel free to contact Paul directly at plandi@moorept.com to inquire about programs for young athletes and adults. Or call 203.762.2903 for more information.