What goes into a training system Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series on the things to look for when choosing and beginning work with a trainer. You can find part one on our website at www.SportStarsMag.com.
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n my last column I explained that when choosing a trainer for your young athletes you must ensure that trainer has a system. By following the ‘Vince Lombardi School of Coaching’ which requires every training session to be a blood, guts, sweat and vomit kind of event, trainers will set your young athletes up for injury and over-training concerns. I’m going to give you a look at what a sound, proven quality system looks like when it comes to improving your young athlete’s athletic potential while reducing their chance of injury. It entails a progressive system of development involving intricate details — including sensitive developmental periods, learning styles and lifestyle monitoring. My hope is this will empower you as a parent to see through all the hype when it comes to choosing an appropriate and effective trainer for your young athlete’s development.
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SportStars™
August 26, 2010
At the heart of each session is and should be skill development. Not unlike academics, the basis for improvement is founded entirely on a building-block style of skill acquisition and development. You cannot teach kids how to perform advanced calculus before they master the basic elements of math. The same holds true of training and developing your young athletes. It requires patience, and a strong focus towards long term athletic development – not only the prospect of immediate gains, which are at best short term, and negatively affect the future development and health of your young athlete. Think of training as a way to introduce, teach, master and integrate various skills and abilities into your young athlete and the sports they play. When working with teenage athletes (14 years and up), I have a set daily plan that has proven effective throughout the year (whether in season or out). It’s a broad system within which reps, sets, loads, volumes and intensities can be altered based on a number of factors. Here’s what the training sessions includes:
■ Mobility/Tissue Quality ■ Flexibility (primarily active) ■ Torso (Core) ■ Movement Prep ■ Movement Technique ■ Stength: power and/or strength skill. ■ Warm-down (generally static-active flexibility) Depending on the time of year, and how my athletes feel that day, each of those categories take between 5 - 15 minutes. And, I can alter any part of the elements to fit the needs of my young athletes on any given day.
Training Time Tim Rudd
I hope this helps in your efforts to find a trainer for your young athlete. In the next issue; I’ll start breaking down each of those categories. ✪ Tim Rudd is an IYCA specialist in youth conditioning (level 3), speed and agility (level 2), and nutrition specialist (level 1). You can contact him with questions or feedback at tim@fit2thecore.com.
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