This is essentially a summary of my presentation last Friday at the NSCA Sport Specific Conference in Nashville. I think there is some food for thought here. In my opinion now we are selling our kids short, we need to rethink the whole process. I hope this will get people thinking and more importantly acting in their communities.
Problems & Concerns
- Chronological age dominates training and competition from ages 11 to 16
- “Critical Periods” are not recognized by coaches
- Low training to competition ratio in early training ages
- An adult competition schedule is imposed on children
- Competitive calendar governed by tradition rather than growth and development and pedagogy
- Adult training programs are imposed on children
- Male programs are imposed on females
- Very little sport science, sports medicine input in youth training programs
Costs & Results
- Training at the beginning level focuses on winning rather than the process
- Young developmental athletes over compete and under train
- Fundamental motor skills are under emphasized and ultimately limit sport skill
- Damage done at early developmental ages cannot be corrected
Recommendations
- Re-institute mandatory daily Physical Education in the schools – NOW- Make it physical and educational
- Stop trying to identify the athletically gifted and give them all the gift of athleticism
- Give the games back to the kids- Minimize adult and parental involvement
- More Play Days – Fewer Leagues and Tournaments
- Put play back into play
- Every kid will not win a scholarship or sign a pro contract – For every Freddy Adu & Lebron James there are thousands who are not playing anymore! Even if they make the professional level there is not a pot of gold there for everyone, the median income for all professional athletes in the US in 2004 was $48,000!
Final Thoughts
- Participate in a variety of sports and activities
- Do NOT try to ‘hurry up’ the developmental process
- Do NOT specialize too early
- Were good life skills taught?