The Optimal Age for Student-Athlete Training
Are you a parent wondering when the right age is to let your student-athlete/child start getting trained?
Whether you are big into the fitness industry or not, one question that we constantly get at Infinite Performance Training is, “How old does my child have to be to start sports training?” While you will soon see the answer to that question, it depends; there are factors you have to weigh before making the final call as a parent.
Today, this guide will help you identify the optimal age for student-athlete training and answer your commonly asked questions. Let’s go!
➡️ For more articles like this, be sure to check out our Infinite Performance Training blog!
Benefits of Early Training for Youth Athletes
While you might not think an elementary or middle school-aged child should train for sports at a high level, there are countless benefits to training with a trainer from a young age. Early training can enhance athletic development and actually reduce the risk of injury in youth athletes.
Hiring a personal trainer like Infinite PT helps foster a lifelong love of sports and physical activity while also providing a competitive edge in high school and beyond. Students looking to get to the next level in their sport have to be willing to take on extra training to perform at a high level.
Lastly, one of the most important benefits of training early is the overall improvement of fitness and coordination, which benefits young athletes in many sports and their overall health. It is well-documented that childhood obesity and inactivity go hand in hand and are plaguing today’s youth. Personal training can help youth athletes develop good habits and a strong work ethic and become more active from a young age.
That said, while the benefits of early training for athletes have been proven to show results, there are principles to effective training that must be met, which means hiring the right personal trainer is crucial!
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7451199/
Principles of Effective Student Athlete Training
The certain age to train question is not as important as the type of training program your son or daughter partakes in. Not all personal trainers are equipped to train athletes, especially student-athletes, and there are principles of effective training to follow to ensure your child is receiving the best training.
First, a well-structured training plan should be tailored to the individual athlete’s needs and goals. This specification is why hiring a certified personal trainer with experience working with youth athletes who understand their unique needs is vital. Next, training should focus on developing fundamental movement skills like:
- agility,
- balance,
- and coordination.
Incorporating strength training and conditioning exercises is essential to improve overall athleticism. However, it should be done gradually and with the proper programming to prevent injuries. One of the critical foundations we stress with our athletes here at Infinite PT of Gainesville is that a good athlete should also learn to properly warm up, cool down, and recover from exercise.
Age-Specific Considerations for Student-Athlete Training
Now that you understand the benefits of hiring a personal trainer for your athlete and the type of programming they should partake in, the next topic to consider is age-specific needs. A high school senior football player will have different needs than an elementary baseball or softball player.
Training foundations scale and build on one another as kids age and mature. Here are some of the age-specific considerations we follow when training young athletes:
- For elementary-aged students (7-10), our training is focused on proper stance, habits, stabilization, core strength, and balance. Working on agility and speed in elementary school is foundational as we look to build a strong base.
- For middle school athletes (ages 11-14), training should focus on developing fundamental movement skills and introducing strength training, with most of the strength being foundational or bodyweight. Student-athletes can progress to advanced training as they hit and mature throughout puberty.
- For high school athletes (ages 14-18), training can become more specialized and intense, focusing on specific sports and positions. We also incorporate advanced exercise programming focused on strength and explosion.
- For athletes past high school (college and beyond), our training is intensified to match their current sports goals and specific sports fields.
At a young age, we want to ensure we are avoiding overtraining and allowing for adequate recovery time, which is essential. As athletes enter high school, they can begin to focus on one sport, develop more advanced skills, and incorporate heavier strength training.
The Role of Personal Training in Student-Athlete Development
Personal training can provide individualized attention and guidance for student-athletes, which is why it plays a significant role in the lives of so many successful athletes. As mentioned, a certified personal trainer like Infinite Performance Training can help athletes develop a training plan tailored to their needs and goals. We strive to provide a safe, fun, and supportive environment for athletes to learn and grow while also offering valuable life experience and mentorship to young athletes.
Here are some of the roles a personal trainer helps provide:
1. Creating a Training Plan for Student Athletes
Your student-athlete training plan should be developed in consultation with a certified personal trainer or coach. We like to personally consider your athlete’s goals, needs, and current fitness levels.
Our custom plan will include strength training, conditioning, and sport-specific exercises. Here at Infinite Training, we recognize it is essential to incorporate rest and recovery days into the plan to avoid overtraining.
2. Overcoming Common Challenges in Student Athlete Training
One common challenge with training and being on a team is balancing training with schoolwork and other responsibilities. We help provide proper time management training through our efficient programming and scheduling.
We also know that some athletes may struggle with self-doubt and lack of motivation, so teaching student-athletes to push through during these times is key and can be done with training. Students who want to play college sports will see challenges; learning to overcome them is vital to their success.
3. Mentorship and Support
A great trainer is like a mentor. Mentorship can provide valuable guidance and support for young athletes. A certified personal trainer or coach can offer mentorship, help athletes develop a training plan, and provide real-life wisdom from their athletic experiences. Most athletes need to have that positive role model and help athletes develop good habits and a strong work ethic. Support from family, friends, and coaches is also essential for young athletes; however, seeing it firsthand is key. A supportive network can help athletes stay motivated and overcome challenges.
Implementation and Next Steps for Training:
Now that you know what age your son or daughter can start training, it is time to start with student-athlete training. First, you can find a certified personal trainer or coach with experience working with youth athletes in your area by searching for it.
If you live in Haymarket, Gainiesville, Manassas, or Centreville, Infinite Performance Training can develop a training plan tailored to your athlete’s specific needs and goals. Our typical training sessions incorporate strength training, conditioning, and sport-specific exercises. So whether you are a football player or a swimmer, our programming is designed to help you with your sport!
We regularly review and update training plans to ensure progress and prevent plateaus so your child can be successful!
The Verdict-
You now know the job of a trainer coaching athletes is all about passion! Aligning the proper programming based on a kid’s age is essential, but it is about their physical maturation and goals. A professional trainer is a must when considering youth or student-athlete sports-specific training.
However, you can see that your child’s training can be a valuable investment in a young athlete’s future. With the right training plan and support, athletes can develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Our certified personal trainers here at Infinite Performance Training can provide individualized attention and guidance for your child to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.
We are one of the premier personal training facilities in Northern Virginia and are widely regarded as the best personal trainers in Gainiesville, VA. To learn more about our operations and services we provide, you can check out the following:
