Recently an acquaintance asked me a very common question I am sure all sports parents ask at some point…..What’s your kid doing on the off season? I responded by saying that after championships early August she does nothing…absolutely nothing for 4-6 weeks. I believe she needs this time to relax mentally and physically from a challenging season…(They have all been challenging in one way or another win lose or draw) about the 4-6 week mark she returns to school and gets back into a academic routine of sorts.From there we pick up piano again and then her second sport Volleyball. She loves the team aspect immensely and truely can’t wait to go to practice. She also goes to a great facility near our home called NDS NeuroDemand Systems Sports & Fitness Performance Solutions. A fancy name for an amazing training system that actually isn’t training at all but as the owner is Junior Nartea, ATC,CSCS says,”Practice to execute perfectly”. The training is done in a small group setting with children all around a similar age group.
They work with ladders for agility and balance, kettlebells and or weighted balls for core and overall strength and proper posture that helps with a given position during a particular movement in a sports related activity these are often specific to the athletes sports activities and speed training to name a few things they do there.
These different, but related exercises help also train mental focus for competition and superior physical competency and that is just the beginning. Lauren really enjoys the activity and she does this about 1-2 times per week off season. During the season 1 time per week. This workout isn’t just for kids,he also has training for adults which is the way I met him.He was my trainer first before Lauren moved in on me.(You know how it is, kids get the best you take left overs). I hope to get a chance to work with him again in the near future.
All of that explanation brings me to the question is strength and weight training specifically for kids helpful, let alone safe? Well I went to the experts for their opinion.
“According to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), strength training can be a fun way for kids to build healthy muscles, joints, and bones. With a properly designed and supervised program, they can improve endurance, total fitness level, and sports performance. Strength training can even help prevent injuries and speed up recovery”
Kidsnet.org states ”
“Strength training is the practice of using free weights, weight machines, and rubber resistance bands, or body weight to build muscles. With resistance the muscles have to work harder to move. When the muscles work harder, they grow stronger and more efficient.
Strength training can also help fortify the ligaments and tendons that support the muscles and bones and improve bone density, which is the amount of calcium and minerals in the bone. And the benefits may go beyond physical health. Young athletes may feel better about themselves as they get stronger”.
As long as your child is using the proper techniques and lifting an appropriate amount of weight, strength training shouldn’t have any effect on growth plates, the layer of cartilage near the end of the bone where most of the bone growth occurs.
Strength training should not involve the use of anabolic steroids. Some young and professional athletes have abused these drugs to build muscles and improve athletic performance and appearance. But these drugs, some of which are illegal, can pose severe risks to physical and psychological health”.
Check out a sample of the kettlebell workout it’s a lot of fun. Junior sent be an e-mail recently and it said
“The Truth is (in my professional opinion)… if an athlete can maturely, and effectively learn and control a technique, anything can be taught at any age”. I agree.
You have reached an all time low . I am sickened by your pathetic tactics to burn ur daughter out of this sport. When poor Lauren Turns 14 and doesn’t want to see the sight of a trac , thank yourself. This is pure child abuse what you are doing to that baby. The nerve of her lifting weights at that age is ridiculous all in an effort to live out your dreams. When my daughter Sydney leaves her at the finish line next year , don’t be surprised.
Dear Track Mom St Louis IP 173.112………. ,
Thanks for visiting TrackMom.com,
I am sorry that you were unable to share your disagreement of our coaches and families functional training methods. I always believe that rational disagreement and dissent is a good thing but personal name calling isn’t necessary nor tolorated on this site as it is rated G and very kid friendly.
My daughter has been beaten and will be again.That being said nothing is taken away from her gift. When that day comes next season as you predict with your daughter and perhaps mine ,I know it will be the best competitor on that day. Losing is part of winning I have embraced that and so has Lauren I have no expectations of Lauren never losing. I do have high expectation of her ALWAYS being a winning person on the track and off.
I hope the best for you and your daughter. Just in case you didn’t take the time to read the article all the way though here are the main points that make your argument of physical training of a youth athlete mute… Training at it’s best takes into consideration Biological and Physiological and Sociologic age to ultimately determine what is best for each individual child .
It would be wise to remember that just because it is a “class 1 time per week dosen’t mean it isn’t fun nor a valuable social and emotional experience as well”
“According to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), strength training can be a fun way for kids to build healthy muscles, joints, and bones. With a properly designed and supervised program, they can improve endurance, total fitness level, and sports performance. Strength training can even help prevent injuries and speed up recovery”
Kidsnet.org states ”
“Strength training is the practice of using free weights, weight machines, and rubber resistance bands, or body weight to build muscles. With resistance the muscles have to work harder to move. When the muscles work harder, they grow stronger and more efficient.
Strength training can also help fortify the ligaments and tendons that support the muscles and bones and improve bone density, which is the amount of calcium and minerals in the bone. And the benefits may go beyond physical health. Young athletes may feel better about themselves as they get stronger”.
As long as your child is using the proper techniques and lifting an appropriate amount of weight, strength training shouldn’t have any effect on growth plates, the layer of cartilage near the end of the bone where most of the bone growth occurs.
I welcome positive dialog and reserve the right to not publish negative conversation. Thank-You
–
Dr.Lorraine Williams
TrackMom.com
“Everything Youth Track and Field”
I have to say that as a mother, and youth track and field advocate, I am disappointed in the comment made by the sister from St. Louis. We recommend the track mom site to many of our new elite youth track and field program members, as a way of introducing them to the positive attributes of the sport and the track community. I understand having your opinion and sharing your experiences in a positive manner, but to make negative comments that include our children, is inappropriate and should not be allowed, not even to provide a response too. Please consider all those of us that love and support the efforts of track mom and her family. It is a sacrifice to provide such detailed and vital information to us on a weekly and even daily basis. Please consider the image you are projecting to others, both young and not so young. We would like to continue to participate in a mature conversation and discussion that will provoke thought and not distain.
Thank you,
Track Mom Midwest
Monique Jones
Haterz…you gotta luv ‘em! TrackMom, the comments by that mother in St. Louis sounds like something personal. Matter fact, they should be highlighted in green because they wreak with envy. You know it comes with the territory. Yall keep doing what you do.
Wow Trackmom St Louis your comments were way out of line, Your statements were personal and egregious in nature. One wonders the true motivation behind your personal attack on the true Trackmom. Lorianne comes out of her pocket to host this website that gives most of us track parents a forum to share stories, share pictures and for some valuable information on training, recovery, diet, psychology tips and feel good stories.
Reading her article in depth it sounds as if the program she has Lauren involved in is more of a general strength and conditioning type of program and the lifting isn’t of the nature that would be damaging to Lauren. There is much debate on when weights should be introduced to an athlete and that can be a whole other forum, If a athlete is deemed physically and psychologically ready to progress there training then it is that athletes parents and coaches decision plain and simple to make. To imply that Lauren is being subjected to child abuse is astoundingly absurd. Lorraine is doing what any parent of talented child would do, be it music, math or computers good parents will try to out their children in the best situations so they can develop and achieve. I would be willing to bet that Lauren willingly participates in this training program and thoroughly enjoys it.
I now way shape or form is Dr. Loraine living through Lauren accomplishments, if you ever get the chance to meet them you will find they are proud, humble and very approachable. Loraine the proud mom that she is is genuinely interested in track as a whole, and takes a real interest in athletes and their accomplishments. She also graciously host this forum for us other track parents and athletes to read articles and share information on our favorite sport.
Loraine as one of my favorite artist once said just “shake them off!” And for what you have Lauren doing right now I don’t see anything wrong with the program she is involved in.
As for Sydney beating Lauren next year I seriously doubt it, but if she does I seriously doubt that Trackmom St Louis will have the decorum to be a good sport about it and will provide an example for us all on the embarrassing unsportsmanlike behavior that gives us all a bad taste in our mouths.
In closing Loraine I give you much respect in the way you responded to this personal attack, you are an example to us all on how to deal with and how to respond to these type of tactics. I for one seriously doubt I would of been able to hold my tongue and respond in such a tactful and professional manner!
Oh Yeah I am TrackDad Denver
Douglas Ries
Youth Track Friends,
I appreciate your kind words and more importanly your efforts to continue to learn and be part of a community that means so much to us all. On occassion I have witnessed sportsmanship and negative behavior at the track which I have written about. I believe that the higher the level of compettion the more the character of the athlete in competion and in the stands(parents and coaches) is exposed. Nothing thrills me more than a great track meet at any age from youth through masters.
Of course I love to watch my daughter as all of you enjoy watching your children ,but I also love watching yours too! That is why I created TrackMom.com to celebrate all of our wondeful youth track athletes all events all youth ages,all colors all the time. That is why I volunteer at LA High Schools regularly to offer kids that haven’t been exposed to great information and bodywork and treatment to help their bodies perfom at top level.
Bringing out the best in an athlete is a priviledge that I have had for over 13 years from my youth kids to Maurice Green and Lauryn Williams and many more in the future. Lets continue to help each other with information and educational perspectives and science that is substancial and vital to helping keep our children healthy,happy and injury free. Youth sports benefits from positive input and meanful conversation.
I would like to continue the positive thread of this post and move on from the “mom”enetary negative dissent. Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to disagree just be nice and repsectful has I am to all that visit the site : – )
Wow I agree with Rob from DC sounds like that green eyed monster is all over the back of St Louis Trackmom, and as for Sydney beating Lauren that the monster really rearing it’s ugle head. As they say in the cheerleading world “Bring It” Keep up the good work Lorraine. Lauren is loving track and field and I am a witness to it.