Youth football players' 2010 seasons and future athletic endeavors benefit from the work they do during the offseason. Parts one and two of this series focused on setting goals and the importance of proper nutrition. USA Football now has some advice on strength and conditioning for youngsters, coaches and parents to follow.
Strength and conditioning is an important subject for youth to pay attention to. This type of offseason exercise is valuable for preparing players so they are ready when the season starts, but it must be done in the correct manner to handle safety concerns and prevent injury.
Allan Miller, a USA Football advisor and former NFL strength and conditioning coach for 21 years, says that offseason strength and conditioning for youngsters is "the ground work and base work for the rest of their athletic career and greatly enhances their physical capabilities to play a game that hopefully they love and have a passion for."
Because of this, the highest priority for youth players during strength and conditioning exercises should be learning to do everything correctly from the very beginning. They need to get a solid base down before getting into more experienced work. They should be very familiar with the exercises and know the proper pathway for bars when weightlifting just like they learned to tie their shoes or write their name. It needs to become natural. If they don't get it right from the start, they can waste years on improper techniques.
Miller has some additional tips for youth athletes:
- Find a highly qualified coach who can start the kids out on the correct learning cycle and exercises.
- Start at ground zero. Don't go too heavy too fast. It should be simple and not complex.
- Exercise three days a week on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday or Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday schedule that provides two days of rest at the end of each week.
- Focus on form first. Youngsters may have trouble with exercises due to lack of strength or joint impingements. Using proper form can help them avoid any problems. Correct any issues right away before they lead to injury.
Following these strength and conditioning guidelines will provide the preparation needed for a successful 2010 season while also keeping a youth player's future development and health in mind. Parents should hold themselves responsible for doing their du e diligence in finding the right person who has had success working with younger athletes and who promotes these guidelines.
One place to get the work and training needed in the offseason is at a USA Football Player Academy. Players can prepare for the upcoming season by developing proper fundamentals through a unique football experience. With position-specific and age-appropriate instruction, the Player Academy will allow youth athletes to work on achieving all your youth football goals as you prepare your body for next season.
Locate a USA Football Player Academy in your area and register today!
