Junior A hle es Elite
Part 1
Jane Kilkenny
G
lobal sport has transformed into an entertainment phenomenon and a multi-billion dollar industry in the last few decades. The popularity of sport has increased dramatically, and this has had a flow on effect at the grassroots level of kids’ sport. The professionalization of sport has created high performance programs that are based on science and research. Whilst these systems are necessary at the elite level, we are seeing an increased demand for juniors to compete at a higher level and at a younger age, in many sports. Soccer and tennis are a great example with both sports having academy programs to increase the hours of training. We have seen a major shift to early sport specialization which can be detrimental to long term development and success for young athletes. Whilst talented juniors are eager to progress quickly, simply increasing their training loads will not
DISCLAIMER
produce the best results. This is a recipe for increased injury risk and burnout. The challenge for parents is trying to manage the demands of the sport coaches, the athletes, schoolteachers and maintaining a balance in the family unit. This is a complex problem. However, with the right support team the potential for success is multiplied. We will discuss load management, training and strength as three of the most important aspects for junior athletes. 1. Load management This is the first major piece in the puzzle. Doing more is not always the key to results. It is important to consider every activity undertaken by junior athletes in their training week. This includes factors such as school sport, social activities and anything else that puts a load on young bodies. As their bodies grow and develop, they progress through a multitude of phases GREAT HEALTH GUIDE | 49
