Chances are somebody has told you that weight training will stunt your child’s growth.
We understand your concern, but it’s important to understand the facts. According to a review in the American Academy of Pediatrics, scientific reports conclude that “strength training can be not only safe for young people, it can also be beneficial, even essential”.
What many parents don’t realize is that any sport can be inherently dangerous if their child is not physically prepared for it. Below are examples of how the major sports can be in dangerous without proper training:
Baseball – Throwing a baseball is one of the most unnatural and stressful motions an athlete can do. Couple this with running around the bases (always in the same direction) as fast as possible along while taking 1,000s of swings a year (only on one side of the body) and your child will develop serious muscular imbalances that will lead to serious injuries down the road. You see, if your child isn’t physically prepared to run, throw and swing, it’s just a matter of time until they get injured.
Basketball – While basketball is a great sport to improve athleticism, it can wreak havoc on your child’s ankles and knees if they are not physically prepared to play. If your child does not have the ability to control his/her own bodyweight, sprinting up and down the court, changing directions and jumping can become very stressful on the joints. In order to minimize injury risk, your child needs to learn how to jump and land properly while also learning how to decelerate their body. Learning these basic athletic movements will help prevent injury while also enhancing performance. Additionally, bodyweight training is critical for basketball players because it will improve joint integrity which will reduce the wear and tear on their ankles and knees.
Combative Sports (e.g., Football & Wrestling) – Like basketball, wrestling and football are great sports to improve athleticism, but since they are combative in nature, they are more physically demanding. If your child is not physically prepared to play they are at a greater risk of injury. The athletes that are bigger, faster and stronger will dominate while the ones that rely solely on skill will get dominated.
In a nutshell, your child is never too young to learn how to handle their own bodyweight properly. Strength training should always start with your own bodyweight and progress slowly overtime.
P.S. – We invite you to try out our new Total Youth Conditioning program. These classes are a safe, fun way to introduce your child to the world of strength & conditioning, getting them faster, agile, and improving their stamina.
Want try a free class? CLICK HERE!
