"Children Players 5-11 Years Old Are NOT Trainable!"
By Darren C. Treasure, Ph.D., Sport & Exercise Psychology
Koach Karl:
I am writing you for some your input and information. It has recently come to my attention that an under 10 girls select coach in my area was having her team run hills prior to the season as a form of conditioning. She also has these young girls training with weights. If I am not mistaken, you cannot develop endurance until after an individual has reached puberty. In the same token weight training prior to puberty could injury the individual's growth plates, as well as tendons, ligaments and joints.
Could you please confirm or deny these assumptions for me? Where can I go to find information on this subject to present to this coach and any other coach that thinks this is the way to prepare our adolescent players?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Doug Saladino
Coaching Coordinator FSYSL
President Solano Soccer Club
FUNdamental Readers: We asked our experts to reply to this one:
In response to your e-mail about the 10 year old girl. Here are some
research findings in regard to the physiological development of child age
5-11. There are also huge differences cognitively, psychologically, and
motor skill wise also during the time period.
The uniqueness of the child aged 5-11.
- large differences in skeletal age. For example, 8 year old skeletal
ages range from 5-11 chronological years.
- Not trainable. Small and insignificant changes in aerobic output
(VO2 Max.) as a result of training (Bouchard, C. (1993). Heredity and health
related fitness. PCPFS Research Digest.
- No major male and female differences in physical performance.
- Age/growth causes performance improvements not training. For
example, as little as 3 months impacts physical test performance.
- No muscle fiber differentiation. Therefore, best sprinters are best
distance runners.
- PREDICTABILITY OF SPORT SUCCESS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE. ONLY 25%
CORRECTLY PREDICTED BY EXPERT COACHES.
My physiology colleagues all recommend weight training activities that are
body weight in nature. No weights during this time period. The exercises
should be functional in nature and focused on the development of balance and
core strength.
Hope this helps.
Darren C. Treasure, Ph.D.
Arizona State University
Department of ESPE
Associate Professor
Sport & Exercise Psychology
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