As an athlete, you’re at the top of your game, right? You train, you practice, and you work out. There’s no need for you to strength train – you’re essentially training the muscles you need to perform your best as you play. Incorrect! It is imperative that youth athletes, especially high school athletes, participate in strength/resistance training as part of their off-season and in-season training schedule, regardless of their sport. Strength training has a huge number of benefits, examples include, but not limited to, reduced risk of injury, increased strength, improved self-esteem, improved sports performance, and turning you into a well-rounded athlete.
Even with all these benefits, there seems to be a large percentage of youth athletes who report minimal resistance training in their individual sport. Some of those barriers include lack of time during training in-season and lack of proper guidance with an introduction to proper lifting techniques and education. There are also concerns that many parents worry about the possible dangers of strength training for young athletes. Whether it’s safety concerns or concerns about adolescent growth and health affects, it’s understandable that parents are only trying to protect their children. That’s why it’s so important to share the right information so that these young athletes can achieve their goals and perform at their best.
Author: Anthony Amechi, PT, DPT, MS, USAW-L1, CP-S
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