| When considering implementing a training program | | | | reality it is a case of sports induced asthma. |
| for you child or your youth football team you | | | | Once you have medical clearance for your football |
| must take several things into consideration. The | | | | player the next most critical thing is to ensure |
| over riding factor you need to consider is safety. | | | | there is proper supervision of the conditioning and |
| Not just from a sprain or strain but also from a | | | | ample water available. Even when the |
| long term injury that may not show up in the | | | | temperature isn't hot out players need to be |
| short term. Remember kids are growing and you | | | | given plenty of water breaks so that they can |
| don't want to cause an injury that would affect | | | | hydrate. |
| you player long term. | | | | Size Matters in Endurance Levels and Dehydration |
| That said, it is worthwhile to improve the fitness | | | | Younger players are smaller and dehydrate faster |
| of your youth football player or players and in | | | | than older players and adults. It is critical to |
| fact good fitness and technique actually will | | | | remember this when establishing workout plans. |
| prevent injuries from occurring. Quality exercise | | | | Make sure there is a plan and make sure there is |
| will also help youth football players to develop | | | | adequate supervision which entails an adult who is |
| strength and lean muscle mass as they grow. | | | | qualified running the conditioning or the practice. |
| The History of Youth Fitness Training | | | | The need to be engaged in the exercise and |
| Throughout history youth have developed and | | | | watching the players intently for signs of fatigue |
| worked their muscles through work and chores. | | | | and dehydration. |
| They have been called on to do chores like hauling | | | | The types of exercises and duration of |
| water, chasing livestock, and to participate in | | | | conditioning programs varies greatly with the age |
| helping the family to meet its basic needs. If you | | | | and physical maturity of your young football |
| think about it hunting and gathering, planting crops | | | | player. Make sure that during the physical |
| and harvesting are all very physical activities so | | | | examination by the medical professional you |
| really youth have been exercising throughout | | | | understand exactly what your player is capable of |
| history. | | | | participating in without harming him or herself. |
| Most of the youth involved in football programs | | | | Also, make sure you give this information to the |
| do not have to hunt for meat or gather and | | | | coach or professional running the practice or |
| carry food and most don't have physically | | | | conditioning exercise. |
| demanding chores to do. Football can be a sport | | | | Types of Exercises for Youth Football Training |
| that is trained for year round without putting | | | | There are many different types of exercises that |
| tremendous pressure on the kids. You can keep | | | | can be done. The ones that are the most |
| the emphasis on general cardiovascular exercise | | | | successful are short intense quickness and speed |
| and mix in some speed drills which help with all | | | | increasing drills. These drills can be done at any |
| sports as well as general fitness. | | | | age and keep the attention of all ages. Additionally |
| Keys to Youth Football Training | | | | you can build in teamwork and competition to the |
| The key to a good youth football fitness program | | | | exercises. Shuttle run, short sprints, relay races, |
| is to have safety, supervision, and proper | | | | agility courses, and others are a fun way to |
| instruction at all times. Although flag football can | | | | emphasize conditioning without over pressuring |
| start earlier, most contact football programs start | | | | your young football players. |
| at age of 10 as it is a significant age for several | | | | You can also have your young football player |
| reasons. | | | | participate in general fitness training year round |
| The games become more competitive, and | | | | which will help to keep them in good shape. Being |
| earning a starting position is more difficult. Staying | | | | in good shape will help to prepare their body for |
| healthy becomes a top priority as you can't get | | | | the football season. Try not to have your young |
| playing time if you are injured. Players, parents | | | | athlete work out more than 3 times per week in |
| and coaches often will decide it's time to start | | | | the off season. If they play other sports make |
| some sort of a physical training program as the | | | | sure you take that into account when deciding |
| competition gets tougher. | | | | whether or not to allow them to participate in off |
| While some 10-year-olds may be playing | | | | season conditioning. |
| competitive sports for the first time, many have | | | | When you get to within 2 months of football |
| played before but have not seen as high a level | | | | season you can start to increase the frequency |
| of intensity. To ensure you minimize the risk of | | | | of the workouts but don't ramp the intensity up |
| injury, players and parents must adapt to proper | | | | too high. You can cause injuries to your player but |
| training techniques. | | | | more importantly you can burn them out on the |
| 10 years old is too young to start training daily | | | | exercise to the point where they don't want to |
| and it is not time for strength training. Kids are | | | | compete in the sport anymore. |
| not miniature adults, the muscle structure and | | | | The main thing to consider in Youth Football |
| rate of development makes their bodies respond | | | | Training is safety. Make sure whatever |
| differently to exercise. | | | | conditioning program you choose to follow that it |
| Consult Your Doctor or Sports Physician | | | | is age appropriate for your young player. Make |
| Additionally, prior to starting a fitness program or | | | | sure you have a physical prior to starting a |
| prior to playing competitive sports make sure you | | | | program and most of all, make it fun so that |
| have a Dr, preferably a Sports Physician, give | | | | your youth football player will want to come back |
| your athlete a good check up prior to beginning | | | | year after year. Handled correctly, Youth Football |
| strenuous exercise. There could be might be | | | | Training can establish and reinforce quality work |
| something in the family history like asthma that | | | | habits that will not only improve your player's |
| hasn't shown up yet and the last thing you want | | | | fitness; it will improve their character as well. |
| is your young athlete feeling out of shape when in | | | | |