In the last blog, we touched on removing the fear of resistance training and its importance in the overall development of the young athlete. However, the question does arise if training modalities between a preadolescent and adolescent athlete differ?

Pre-adolescent athletes respond most favourably to plyometric (continual jumping) and neural stimulus to make strength and speed gains. What that does means is, that they do quite yet have the ability to put on muscle size and strength like a teenage athlete or a full grown adult. However, they can train the brain to fire rapidly with better co-ordination and activation of their muscles.

Therefore, pre-adolescent training would comprise more jumps, throws, bounds and speed games with a touch of strength through bodyweight or external stimuli to activate more musculature.

The teenage athlete, possesses the capability to put on muscle size and strength. As they naturally get heavier with age, they now have to train how to transfer that strength rapidly in a sporting context. Therefore focusing training on strength, expressing strength rapidly (producing force quickly) and plyometrics.

Off-course under professional supervision!