Young athletes

Strength and conditioning for young athletes, high school age and up. Here are the questions people usually ask before booking.

Is strength training safe for young athletes who are still growing?

Yes, when it's well coached and supervised. That's the position of an international consensus of experts in youth sport and medicine¹. Technique always comes first, and weight is only added once the movement is right. During growth spurts, coordination can dip for a while, so we adjust the program to suit.

Are you qualified to coach young athletes?

I'm an ASCA Level 1 Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach. I've worked with junior academies through to senior teams, including Moreland City FC, Exeter City FC and the Gloucestershire Cricket Academy, and I'm currently the strength and conditioning coach at Uni Blues in the VAFA Premier division.

What will they actually do?

A written program, built around their sport and their experience in the gym. Beginners start with the basics, like bodyweight squats, push-ups and rows, and progress as they're ready. The program changes through the year to fit around their season.

Will it help them in their sport?

That's the starting point. Every program is built from what their sport and position ask of them, with a focus on speed: acceleration, top speed, change of direction and deceleration.

Will they understand why they're doing it?

Yes. The program is explained face to face, to the athlete and their parent together if they're under 18, so they know what each part is for and how it helps their game.

¹ Lloyd RS, Faigenbaum AD, Stone MH, et al. Position statement on youth resistance training: the 2014 International Consensus. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2014;48(7):498–505.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24055781/

Have a question that isn't answered here? Tell me their sport and age, and I'll let you know whether it's a good fit.