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What is Young Athlete Development at BBG?
Young athlete development (YAD) is fundamentally a programme we run here at the Better Body Group that provides children from all backgrounds and experience, a safe and supporting environment to learn the fundamentals of weight/resistance training and answering the questions that arise around nutrition so they can then apply to both sporting and lifestyle situations.
On the YAD programme we currently have a range of young athletes with various motives as to why they attend the classes, from wanting to improve athletic performance to just wanting to learn how to lift safely. We are extremely privileged here to be able to provide all children with the means to increase their confidence and self-esteem all while developing healthy habits for them to take not only into sport but into adulthood too!
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Is resistance training safe for children?
Now this is a question our YAD team quite rightly get asked frequently, and the answer is, ABSOLUTELY, resistance training is safe for children so long as it is appropriately supervised and in a safe manner. Technique and form must be the number one priority for anyone when learning weightlifting and this especially goes for children too! At BBG, only once form has been perfected do we allow slow progressive overload to occur to encourage the young athletes to also adopt the principle of form > weight/reps.
Still not sure whether to take my word for it? The UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) have reviewed countless published articles around the safety of resistance training for children and they all have one thing in common; that compared to nearly every sport from football to combat sports, from hockey to gymnastics, that resistance training has far less reported injuries, now that’s not to say its 100% injury free, but with supervision and progressing in a timely manner, with our experts who have studied epiphyseal loading and understand the scientific aspects of training and growth development it’s as safe as it gets.
Now I could sit here and quote endless published articles around the safety and benefits of resistance training (RT) for adolescents but that would be painstakingly time consuming, and time is precious for you, so please enjoy this bullet point review instead: (appropriate resistance training programmes);
- Children who do not participate in activities that enhance muscle strength and movement skills may be at increased risk of negative health later in life.
- RT is not only safe but may also reduce sports-related injuries.
- RT can elicit noticeable improvements in motor skills, and consequently may positively enhance sports performance.
- RT can improve and maintain psychological health and wellbeing.
- RT can increase muscle mass and bone density for later on in life.
- Myth- ‘RT injuries growth-plates and inhibits growth’ Fact- RT are beneficial for bone mineral accrual and bone formation and growth.
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How do kids develop through the YAD classes?
Children that join the YAD programme go through 3 phases which are designed to take them on a journey, whether that is to the next level or performance or to become competent and confident lifters. Learning the fundamentals is the primary goal of the programme with the focus on building proficiency in squat, hinge upper push and pull movement patterns. Once the foundations have been laid, the young athletes then focus on strengthening those movement patterns before moving onto the final phase of tailoring their programme to their sport or goals.
YAD children improve their confidence, find comradery amongst peers, have fun, learn life skills, enjoy delayed gratification and learn they can reach their goals, and what we find important as parents have a Q&A group lead by experts that guide on nutrition and bring them back from the rabbit hole of social media trends and misinformation.
JACK:
“I really enjoy YAD as I get to do lots of different exercises in the gym. I like that I can use lots of different equipment and I am going through the levels. I have now noticed I am stronger and more physical when I play football. It’s great fun and I really enjoy being healthy. My trainer is really cool, except he suppoert Arsenal!”
Jack is working on the final level of the 3 phases before he gets an individual programme to suit his goals.
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https://betterbodygroup.co.uk/book-a-class/
