We know that training in the weight room and on the turf can play a major part in athletic performance. In fact many players wouldn’t be nearly as successful without intelligently and appropriately implemented strength training regimens. One of the hallmark qualities of any successful baseball player is his longevity. Baseball heroes like Cal Ripken, Hank Aaron, Derek Jeter, and so many others were incredibly successful because of their ability to stay on the field and perform.
But where do you start a young athlete with little to no training experience? This is a critical time for the development of general athleticism, speed, and strength. Here are a few of our thoughts on developing the younger athlete.
Learn the Basics
Building a solid fitness foundation is critical during the early stages of an athlete’s training career. Learning how to properly lift weights, jump, balance, run, etc. at a young age can be an incredible advantage for a young athlete. These movement quality basics not only serve as tools to improve athleticism, but also can prevent injury. Moving well is vital to longevity! All of our athletes go through an in depth assessment process so we can identify training priorities each athlete. These qualities along with a strong cardiorespiratory system allow athletes to train much harder and with much more intent when their developmental window opens. (There are certain qualities, like maximal strength and power, that can’t be developed until later in life).
Exposure to different environments and sports skills
Specializing in a certain area too early can hinder the development of athletic skills such as coordination, cutting, lateral movements, etc. More often than not, big time professional athletes played multiple sports growing up. One of the biggest advantages of this approach is avoiding over use injuries. Using different skills and body parts can play a critical role in injury prevention. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to go out and join the local soccer team. Playing spikeball in the yard or basketball in the driveway with friends can go a long way in terms of exposing a budding athlete to new skills. Additionally, basic weight room and speed training modalities are excellent tools for athletic development. We believe in teaching rhythm and timing with drills such as marching, skipping, and medicine ball throws.
We hope this helps! Please feel free to comment with questions or topic suggestions! Happy 4th of July!
All the best,
The Rapid Team
www.go-rapid.com
Andrew Gordon, MS, CSCS
Andrew.Gordon@go-rapid.com
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Training the Younger Athlete
Posted - 07/02/2018 : 06:58:42
