Traditionally, resistance training in youth has been frowned upon. When to start, how much is enough or too much, and what to prescribe is constantly being debated and put under scrutiny. During my days as an athlete and more recently as a coach, the two biggest concerns I hear from parents when talking about youth resistance training are the potential to stunt a child’s growth and the increased likelihood of injury.
The concern over epiphyseal plate (or growth plate) injuries grew from studies and case reports that were published in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Although injuries did occur in these studies and reports, it was found that most of these injuries were related to improper form and lifting program design
- When effective supervision and guidance are provided, researchers saw no increase of physeal injuries when children lift weights.
With all that being said,
There will always be some risk of injury with resistance training just like any other physical activity. But when we compare the injury rate of resistance training to the many different youth sports and physical activities the findings show that a youth athlete is more likely to become injured during their selected sport. In a study from the mid-1990s, it was found that youth rugby had an injury risk approximately 230 times greater than resistance training(3). It is likely that resistance training in youth will ultimately reduce injury risk, due to the increase in strength, skeletal health, and motor coordination that resistance training provides.
Conclusion
Over the last couple decades many experts and national organizations, like the National Strength and Conditioning Association, have developed long-term athletic development and youth physical development models to better educate and support youth resistance training. The goals of this series are to better understand the benefits of resistance training for youth and to go away with the confidence to participate in a well developed training program.
Scott Cliff
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Scott introduces the workshop parameters and what he aims to discuss in this series, including all the questions and concerns related to youth weight training.
Scott discusses some of the most common concerns about children participating in resistance training, and busts the misconception that it will stunt your child’s growth.
Now that Scott has addressed concerns surrounding the safety of youth training, he will explore at what age is safe for a child to begin training and under what parameters.
Scott explores a few of the lifelong benefits of training for youth, including benefits to a child’s growth, development and progression in sport.
Scott has discussed the benefits and safety regarding youth participating in training programs, however there are a few key components you should ensure the program covers.