Reaching Youth Sport Goals

Knowing what it is you want to accomplish as a young athlete can sometimes be overwhelming. Are you hoping to score in the next game, a winning season or a full ride to a prestigious school? One thing that may help you prioritize what it is you want is to learn how to set and reach goals.

The best way to begin is to brainstorm. Write down in list format what initially comes to mind. Don’t be afraid to put down things that may seem too hard to accomplish or foolhardy. Follow your heart and really dream big. For the next month, continuously think about your list and keep track of which goals keep popping into your head first. By identifying these key ideas, you should be able to identify 3-5 goals that can be listed as your priority dreams.

Once the priority dreams are determined, begin the process known as backward chaining. First, create two columns. Column one will be the WHEN and the second column will be the WHAT. The “when” column will be used to create the time that you wish to accomplish the goal. The” what” column will be used to determine what needs to happen in order for you to make it a reality. In order to take the time to develop the necessary habits to get to your goal, divide the what list into a time frame.

Here's a quick example:
Priority Dream: Become a starter on sport team in sophomore year
The when is your sophomore year. Your what list would be all the things that YOU need to do in order to make your dream come true. Imagine yourself as a starter. What did you do to get to that place? Obvious choices would be practicing and eating well to fuel your body. Other choices would have to include maintaining high enough grades to be allowed to play on the team. Think about EVERY THING that will be necessary to accomplish your goal.

Understand that goals are attainable, but discipline to reach them is necessary. Take the time to develop the habits that are needed and you will be enjoying the rewards before you know it.

Have a wonderful holiday season.

In Health,
Len

Core Development

Why is young athlete’s core important? All movements including sports specific ones are dependent on the core. Whether it be swinging a baseball bat, shooting a basketball or swinging a golf club – the more developed the muscles of the core are, the higher degree of ability that a young athlete will typically have.

Core muscles are composed of the abdominal muscles (both superficial and deep), the lumbar region, or lower back, and the thoracic and cervical region of the spine (mid and upper, respectively). The relationship between core exercises and sports injury prevention is strong. Core training can improve a young athlete’s posture, balance and stability. Stronger muscles keep his or her spine and body stable throughout movements, because core is essentially their center of gravity. Because the athlete will be better able to balance, fewer injuries will occur. Performing core exercises will also help to keep the body in alignment while doing other activities, too. Better stability results in less wear and tear on muscles and joints, which is also very important for injury reduction. Ultimately, the more developed the core muscles are, the better a young athlete will be able to respond to demands placed upon it.

Core training should be a top priority in fitness training programs designed for youths. Without a strong core, the advancement of muscle imbalances and the chance of injury are dramatically increased.

In Health,
Len