Helping young athletes navigate their way through the gym requires a thoughtful approach to track and boost their progress. In this blog post, let's dive into some practical strategies for keeping an eye on your child or teenager's evolution in the gym, with a focus on setting goals, using performance metrics, and throwing in a bit of periodisation.
Now, let's talk about goals. Lochbaum's (2022) research reaffirms that having clear and doable goals amps up motivation. "It's like giving them a roadmap for constant improvement, building a sense of achievement along the way."
Performance metrics are your secret sauce for tracking progress objectively. Check out a study by Bergeron, M. F., (2015) for some proof. Metrics like strength levels, endurance, and technique are the keys here. At Athlete Evolution, we make it a habit to run regular tests throughout the year, keeping tabs on how our athletes are leveling up in these performance areas.
Let's chat about training load and volume. A recent study by Jayanthi et al. (2022) shows us that tweaking training variables is like personalising a playlist – it's necessary. It's about tailoring the approach to meet your young athlete's specific needs. Keep an eye on workloads and check in on motivation and energy levels; it's like ensuring they're riding the workout wave just right.
Recovery is where the magic happens. A study by Coel et al. (2023) emphasises that proper recovery strategies, including good sleep and nutrition, are the secret ingredients. It's like giving the body and mind the right tools to optimise those gym gains.
Remember, it's an ongoing process. Constantly checking in on these strategies isn't just about the weights lifted; it's about nurturing a young athlete who's not only strong in the gym but resilient and thriving in every way.
Happy lifting!
References
Lochbaum, M., Stoner, E., Hefner, T., Cooper, S., Lane, A. M., & Terry, P. C. (2022). Sport psychology and performance meta-analyses: A systematic review of the literature. PloS one, 17(2), e0263408. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263408
Bergeron, M. F., Mountjoy, M., Armstrong, N., Chia, M., Côté, J., Emery, C. A., ... & Engebretsen, L. (2015). International Olympic Committee consensus statement on youth athletic development. British journal of sports medicine, 49(13), 843-851.Jayanthi, N., Schley, S., Cumming, S. P., Myer, G. D., Saffel, H., Hartwig, T., & Gabbett, T. J. (2022). Developmental Training Model for the Sport Specialized Youth Athlete: A Dynamic Strategy for Individualizing Load-Response During Maturation. Sports health, 14(1), 142–153. https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381211056088
Jayanthi, N., Schley, S., Cumming, S. P., Myer, G. D., Saffel, H., Hartwig, T., & Gabbett, T. J. (2022). Developmental Training Model for the Sport Specialized Youth Athlete: A Dynamic Strategy for Individualizing Load-Response During Maturation. Sports health, 14(1), 142–153. https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381211056088
Coel, R. A., Pujalte, G. G. A., Applewhite, A. I., Zaslow, T., Cooper, G., Ton, A. N., & Benjamin, H. J. (2023). Sleep and the Young Athlete. Sports health, 15(4), 537–546. https://doi.org/10.1177/19417381221108732
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