ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN
THE BEST THING YOU CAN EVER GIVE TO YOUR CHILDREN? THEIR HEALTH!
THE FOUNDATIONAL PHASE
The foundation is always the key and children have a desire to learn, as well as progress. They are competitive and movement patterns are easier develop in children, they just need to move more efficiently and more in general. We never get taught how to move as children, we just develop our own motor units, none of us move with the same volume either, so some children are provided with more opportunity to move than others from a much earlier age and this creates disproportionate levels between children of the same age in terms of athletic ability. The key with Athletic Development training is to firstly make children aware of how to use their body, to form better movement patterns and give them the confidence to go out and try different sports.
A child’s script is not complete, they have the ability to make great improvements at a great pace and if they have athletic dreams let them chase them now, the best thing you can give to your children is their health.
THE PERFORMANCE PHASE
If your child is already competing near to the top level of their own age group, then the key is to try to keep them there or set them further apart from the chasing pack. Quite often in the younger ages 7-11, physical attributes such as speed and strength will offer a huge advantage. Over time these will naturally even out but with training these advantages can be enhanced, if your child is currently placed down the group in terms of physicality, then work should be put in to close this gap. You cannot simply ask a child to be faster or stronger, but you can train them to be so.
Strength, Speed, Power & Agility are all attributes that can be worked on in junior athletes to elevate their performance level.