Have you ever wondered why some adolescents seem to have the motivation and confidence to take on new athletic challenges or fitness goals, while others seem insecure and not interested? How do these two groups of youths differ so that one succeeds and the other fails or worse doesn’t even try? Basically, it boils down to four distinct character traits. Each trait can be instilled into young athletes by parents and coaches.
1.The athlete believes in his or her athletic ability – Expressing to adolescent athletes specifically how they positively performed in a game carries much more validity than a vague comment. For example, telling an athlete that he did a great job being patient enough to wait for his pitch holds much more weight then saying you played well today. It is important that the youth has specific positive feedback so that they can gauge their future progress. Don’t however compliment tasks that aren’t performed well. Youths need to be able to trust your evaluation and glossing over the truth can be counterproductive.
2.The athlete believes in their environment – The adolescent’s athletic environment needs to be welcoming and one that will provide positive results. Youths need to have the belief that if they put in the necessary time and energy it will pay off for them. It is imperative that coaches by supportive and provide positive reinforcement. That being said, the athlete needs to understand that difference between the problem actually being the environment and not because he or she isn’t giving it 100%.
3.The athlete values the activity – When the athlete enjoys an activity at hand, naturally they will want to succeed. However, sometimes adolescent athletes do not see the value in specific actions. It is important that they are made to recognize that seemingly unimportant actions have a positive long term value to their enjoyed activity. It can be beneficial to set short and long term goals for athletes that can help them see the correlation between reaching these goals and having a better long term outcome.
4.The athlete has the ability to set his or her own personal standards – Sometimes young athletes feel that the effort they are putting forth is acceptable. This can sometimes happen because they are already playing at a higher level than their peers, but it can also be because they play at a lower level and feel discouraged. In either situation, it is important that the athlete sets individual goals and strives to reach them. The goals should be difficult enough so that challenge is involved, but not so impossible that the goal can never be attained.
Adolescent athletes need motivation to pursue their fitness goals. If coaches and parents can assist youths to believe in their ability, trust in their environment, able to attach value to their goals, and set personal standards for themselves, the athletes will have skills that will prepare them for any situation.
In Health,
Len
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Why Most Youth Injuries Occur During Practice
Unfortunately, one of the most common adolescent injuries is the ones that occur during sports play. A cause for concern, parents need to be aware that 65 percent of these injuries occur during practices. Many of these injuries are preventable, but parents and coaches need to be proactive. For example, when playing contact sports it is imperative that the equipment the youth is using isn’t worn out and that it fits properly. Pads, straps, etc. should be in top condition and free from wear and tear. If you don’t know how to fit your child properly for equipment, don’t guess! Ask for assistance. Ill-fitting gear can be dangerous!
Coaches need to understand the proper way to administer practice drills, technique and movement patterns to their athletes. When young athletes are shown specific movements, it is imperative that they are given an explanation to why the move is important to their overall game play and why simple movements need to be mastered prior to moving forward to more challenging ones. Coaches need to take into account the age of their athletes when determining number of sets and practice reps, because of the developmental changes the athletes are going through during this time. All this needs to be developed in a program that adds variety to keep it fun.
Adolescents need to be held accountable for their own injury prevention, as well. They need to be told how to prevent injuries and consistently be held to this standard on and off the field. The best athletes tend to be the ones that understand the direct relationship between adapting injury prevention rules and gaining a higher performance level on game day.
It is important, too, that young athletes participate in an environment that allows them to report injuries and not ignore pain. Too often “small” injuries that are left untreated can quickly become much more serious. Sometimes over zealous coaches and/or parents can cause unintentional emotional stress to their young athlete(s) by applying pressure to play through the pain during an important game. Remember that sports should always foster a supporting, positive and safe place for athletes.
Other ways to determine if the adolescent athlete is participating in a surrounding that enforces injury prevention are:
•Coaches certified in sports first aid and CPR
•Background checks done on coaches, assistant coaches, etc.
•Plan of action in place in case of emergency situation
•First-aid box and ice present at all practices and games
•Proper conditioning program before signups, so prospective student athletes know before they go out for a team what is to be expected of them physically
•Pre-participation physical exams required for sports play
•Regular safety checks of facilities
•Safety equipment available or required that fits properly and is in good condition
•Parent Code of Conduct is required to be signed by all parents
•Preseason meeting for parents outlining the program philosophy and safety procedures
In Health,
Len
Coaches need to understand the proper way to administer practice drills, technique and movement patterns to their athletes. When young athletes are shown specific movements, it is imperative that they are given an explanation to why the move is important to their overall game play and why simple movements need to be mastered prior to moving forward to more challenging ones. Coaches need to take into account the age of their athletes when determining number of sets and practice reps, because of the developmental changes the athletes are going through during this time. All this needs to be developed in a program that adds variety to keep it fun.
Adolescents need to be held accountable for their own injury prevention, as well. They need to be told how to prevent injuries and consistently be held to this standard on and off the field. The best athletes tend to be the ones that understand the direct relationship between adapting injury prevention rules and gaining a higher performance level on game day.
It is important, too, that young athletes participate in an environment that allows them to report injuries and not ignore pain. Too often “small” injuries that are left untreated can quickly become much more serious. Sometimes over zealous coaches and/or parents can cause unintentional emotional stress to their young athlete(s) by applying pressure to play through the pain during an important game. Remember that sports should always foster a supporting, positive and safe place for athletes.
Other ways to determine if the adolescent athlete is participating in a surrounding that enforces injury prevention are:
•Coaches certified in sports first aid and CPR
•Background checks done on coaches, assistant coaches, etc.
•Plan of action in place in case of emergency situation
•First-aid box and ice present at all practices and games
•Proper conditioning program before signups, so prospective student athletes know before they go out for a team what is to be expected of them physically
•Pre-participation physical exams required for sports play
•Regular safety checks of facilities
•Safety equipment available or required that fits properly and is in good condition
•Parent Code of Conduct is required to be signed by all parents
•Preseason meeting for parents outlining the program philosophy and safety procedures
In Health,
Len
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Single Sport Athlete and the Importance of Alternate Activities or Sports
More and more youths are being allowed to train and “specialize” in one sport today at an early age. It appears that the days of young athletes playing multiple sports and switching it up each season is becoming obsolete. Unfortunately, this isn’t producing super athletes, on the contrary, quite the opposite is happening.
It is important to remember that young athletes, because of the body’s physical development, need to be exposed to a variety of different exercises and fitness drills. Playing in seasonal sports allow for this to take place. Participating in multiple sports throughout the year is a form of cross-training and allows for different muscle patterns to be used. If the young athlete is continuously using the same muscle groups in the same way, year in and year out, muscles and joints have no time to recover. This repetitive stress can cause young bodies to break down. This is leading to a higher incidence of overuse injuries.
Because young athletes are sometimes pressured by coaches, team members, and parents to excel, the youth may feel the need to over train. It is important that the people who influence the athlete’s physical development understand overuse injuries and how to prevent them from occurring. Consider the following guidelines:
•Each sport should be limited to 5 times per week. This would include practices, outside training and games.
•No physical activity 1 time per week – Complete rest!
•2-3 months per year should be sport free
•Training should be carried out by an instructor/coach that understands how to safely increase the athlete’s fitness curriculum
The stress to earn college scholarships or to become a professional athlete seems to have fueled this new trend of sport specialization. It is important for parents to remember though that only 0.2% to 0.5% of high school athletes will continue to the professional level. The real goal of participating in sports is for a youth to enjoy a level of fitness that leads to a lifetime activity.
In Health,
Len
It is important to remember that young athletes, because of the body’s physical development, need to be exposed to a variety of different exercises and fitness drills. Playing in seasonal sports allow for this to take place. Participating in multiple sports throughout the year is a form of cross-training and allows for different muscle patterns to be used. If the young athlete is continuously using the same muscle groups in the same way, year in and year out, muscles and joints have no time to recover. This repetitive stress can cause young bodies to break down. This is leading to a higher incidence of overuse injuries.
Because young athletes are sometimes pressured by coaches, team members, and parents to excel, the youth may feel the need to over train. It is important that the people who influence the athlete’s physical development understand overuse injuries and how to prevent them from occurring. Consider the following guidelines:
•Each sport should be limited to 5 times per week. This would include practices, outside training and games.
•No physical activity 1 time per week – Complete rest!
•2-3 months per year should be sport free
•Training should be carried out by an instructor/coach that understands how to safely increase the athlete’s fitness curriculum
The stress to earn college scholarships or to become a professional athlete seems to have fueled this new trend of sport specialization. It is important for parents to remember though that only 0.2% to 0.5% of high school athletes will continue to the professional level. The real goal of participating in sports is for a youth to enjoy a level of fitness that leads to a lifetime activity.
In Health,
Len
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Coordination and Movement Skill Development
A child's development is complex and unique. Although an expected sequence of steps and milestones is seen with all children, each child will proceed through these steps in different ways and different times. For example, at age seven, a child is capable of complex movements such as, running to kick a ball, rolling after landing from a jump or moving to rhythm heard in music.
It is important to remember though, that just because a child is capable of these actions, doesn’t mean he or she is coordinated enough to execute them properly and/or safely. A child’s environment and individual experiences greatly affect his or her development. In fact, it is crucial during the ages of 7-14, that children are regularly exposed to programs that not only offer variety and skillfulness, but also allow for each child to have the opportunity to modify exercises or drills based on their individual level of athletic strengths and/or weaknesses.
The time to introduce coordination building exercises must begin during preadolescence because movement patterns are not habitual and the nervous system is highly adaptable. Once a child reaches adolescence, bodily changes experienced at this time will affect their movement patterns. Because of this, it is important to reinforce the movements the child had already been exposed to during earlier years of athletic development than to try to teach new ones.
Athletes are developed by layering different stimuli that continually build a well rounded, healthy and, ultimately, successful athlete. Coaches, trainers and parents need to understand that an athlete can’t be created in a short period of time, but needs years to develop.
In Health,
Len
It is important to remember though, that just because a child is capable of these actions, doesn’t mean he or she is coordinated enough to execute them properly and/or safely. A child’s environment and individual experiences greatly affect his or her development. In fact, it is crucial during the ages of 7-14, that children are regularly exposed to programs that not only offer variety and skillfulness, but also allow for each child to have the opportunity to modify exercises or drills based on their individual level of athletic strengths and/or weaknesses.
The time to introduce coordination building exercises must begin during preadolescence because movement patterns are not habitual and the nervous system is highly adaptable. Once a child reaches adolescence, bodily changes experienced at this time will affect their movement patterns. Because of this, it is important to reinforce the movements the child had already been exposed to during earlier years of athletic development than to try to teach new ones.
Athletes are developed by layering different stimuli that continually build a well rounded, healthy and, ultimately, successful athlete. Coaches, trainers and parents need to understand that an athlete can’t be created in a short period of time, but needs years to develop.
In Health,
Len
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