What Makes You a Better Athlete?

When developing young athletes, many factors must be considered, not the least of which is a good balance in physical ability, proprioception and kinesthetic awareness. While strength and power can help unlock hidden potential by improving an athletes ability to express agility, speed and explosiveness, the fundamental potential and capacity to move in a co-ordinated and efficient fashion, in many directions, and at varying speeds, must be trained as early as possible, in order to realize a young athletes full capability and to help them remain as healthy and as injury free as possible. Even though each sport requires a specific base of skills in order to excel, a larger base of athleticism and sport IQ (taught as early as possible) will create more potential to excel in any one discipline once specific preparation for that sport is required and there is no time left to worry about skills lacking elsewhere.

Athleticism CANNOT be Rushed

It is easy for parents to fall into the trap of wanting fast results for their children, especially when they see training programs, gadgets and unique movements being used as allegedly beneficial practices to give their child the upper hand. Unfortunately, the vast majority of coaches who employ these practices do not understand the time it takes to develop an athlete on and off the field. Deadlifting heavy weights, jumping MORE and training to fatigue in the name of “ strength and conditioning" are fast ways to quick gratification and injury.

Strength and Conditioning vs. Practice

Practicing your sport is the most important thing you can do to improve both skill and conditioning for that sport. On the other hand, getting stronger for your sport requires a solid base of general movements (some weighted and some not) before training hard, heavy and explosive. Likewise, more conditioning (ie, running, sprints, lines, jumping, etc) on top of one’s sport will only help if someone is “out of shape.” However, if a child is already playing multiple times each week, it is usually more important to look at recovery, nutrition, genetics and - sometimes - bodyweight. In addition, some athletes are more naturally able to train harder before their peers can. Regardless of ones starting point, all young athletes who want to begin training hard outside their sport require a certain level of mobility, coordination and some strength in basic movements, which they are usually not able to practice in their sport. The extent or time spent on these prerequisite movements will slightly differ across age groups, abilities and the sport being practiced.

Our Class Focusses on Long Term Development

In these classes, Scott integrates his expertise in both strength training and human movement in order combine all the realities described above and help athletes get to the next level depending on the needs of their sport. He will consider where each athlete is starting, the needs of each sport, and how each group has to progress in order to continue improving in the gym and in their sport, without the risk of overtraining any specific area of performance.

If you are part of a team, or coach a team that would like to develop more complete athletes, contact us here.

In addition, if you are a more advanced athlete who would like to train one-on-one, check out our personal training services. Also, if you need your nutrition more tailored to the needs of your sport, click here.

Here is a sneak peak at one of our classes