With over 16 years in private practice I have seen many athletes and their injuries come and go. I have seen just as many new techniques , applications and approaches used to help patients get better and improve performance. I have used and continue to use some of them. These days I spend a good amount of time researching talking about , comparing and contrasting these methods and how to integrate them into the youth athletes (specifically Lauren’s and other youth athletes) training plan. While I am not a coach, I live with one and an athlete too, and I have seen the fruits of practical almost over simplified training approaches that work very well.
After all these years my foundation for the athlete, youth through elite is pretty clear and straight forward:
- 1. Train the athletes in such a way that injury can be prevented because of good foundational exercises ,drills etc/ In some circles this is called a ” Multi-Functional Training Approach” or simply ”Cross Training”
- 2. Teach sound concepts of training, nutrition and hydration at a level the youth athlete can understand and build upon for the future.
- 3. Integrate exercises, drills that are transferable to dynamic movements necessary for the activity or sport ,not just cool looking exercises that yield little value in a race or jumping activity.
- 4. Low amplitude jumps and plyometrics which load the core vertically, similar to running are optimum . I believe this is the best way to develop the strength needed to perform desired movements . I once heard John Smith say at a clinic” Runner’s don’t have a core strength problem they have an awareness problem. He then demonstrated with Tyson Gay what he meant by that statement. It was profound and simple at the same time. I believe it’s a matter of harnessing the power for effective use, not just building the structure to look powerful . Always remembering we work with and train children not yet mature so core stability is only relative until after final growth occurs
- 5. “Conventional” stability exercises those on balls, baps boards and botsu balls while good for the rehab patient, the healthy athlete doesn’t benefit much(many reasons I can’t explain here)and in my practice observation cause more problems like tightness, stiffness need for more stretching and flexibility exercise integration to overcome this side effect of unstable surface core training. Stick with a stable surface for most work in this area.
- 6. Recovery is the great missing piece for most athletes.Both mental and physical. The battery has to be charged to get full effective power from it.
- Sleep as a measurable component to training ,not just something you do at the end of the day because it’a time.
You don’t have to be a doctor to understand the basics of training ,proper nutrition and rest for your youth athlete.I believe finding a credible source whether in a book, internet,local Chiropractor,athletic trainer,Sports Physician. Find the source that makes sense to you ask questions define terms you may not fully understand.(my friends are always telling me I ask too many questions)The information is out there for the interested parent. Take it a little at a time, it will pay trucks loads in return
Until Next Time
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