Strength Training is Necessary for the Serious Athlete

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Is your child dreaming of being a college athlete, a professional athlete, or an Olympian? Are you considering getting an extra edge over other athletes your child’s age? Is bigger, faster, and stronger better? The young athletes looking to move up to the next level are interested in improving speed, agility, and strength. Our youth are becoming increasingly involved in a more advanced level of competition with the hopes of obtaining their dreams of being the best at their chosen sport. It takes discipline to complete endurance and agility building exercises; thus you create a more disciplined athlete. Because speed, endurance, and agility are not sport specific, they have benefits in all athletic endeavors. Teaching good nutritional habits can benefit the young athlete by preparing the body for physical exertion and aid in prevention and faster recovery from the least to most serious injuries. From injury prevention to elite athlete status, youth training can be beneficial to recreational athletes as well as professional athletes, both male and female. Young athletes have become more sport specialized in recent years. The athletes are focusing on one sport rather than participating in multiple sports. The competition levels have increased and athletes are beginning to train at younger ages. Speed, agility, and strength training are essential for athletes that are focused on excelling in sports. Physical training benefits the athlete in building endurance, strength, and mobility. Psychological benefits can include raised self-esteem, increased self-confidence, and improved self discipline. Speed, strength, and endurance conditioning are imperative in a highly trained young athlete; thus creating a more disciplined ath... ... middle of paper ... ... D. A., & Westcott, D. W. (2009). Youth Strength Training:Programs for Health, Fitness and Sport (Strength & Power for Young Athlete) (2 ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Grasso, B. (n.d.). Speed Training for Young Athletes. Coaching Drills, Information and Products For Youth Sports. Retrieved July 30, 2010, from http://www.y-coach.com/speedtrain.html Lee, M. (1993). Coaching Children in Sport (1 ed.). London: Spon Press. Metzl, J. (2010, June 23). Strength Training Must Knows, Health for Parents Learning About Youth Sports - Weplay. A Youth Sports Community for Coaches, Parents, Kids and Teams - weplay.com. Retrieved July 28, 2010, from http://www.weplay.com/sports-parents/health/38-Strength-Training-Must-Knows Reilly, T. (2007). Science of Athletic Training Soccer: A Scientific Basis for Developing Strength, Skills and Endurance (1 ed.). New York: Routledge

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