TRAINING
Physiological care for young athletes NSW INSTITUTE OF SPORT PHOTOS: TOM DE JONGH
D
uring adolescence many physiological changes occur.
Here are some considerations that may help minimise injury risk and help appropriately prepare young athletes for the demands of their sport.
Sports specialisation Early sports specialisation (greater than eight months per year in a single sport) does not guarantee success at the highest level of sports competition. In fact, for most sports, young athletes who specialise early may be at an increased risk of injury and burnout. To avoid this, young athletes are encouraged to: •P articipate in multiple sports at levels that match their ability and interests. This helps to enhance their neuromuscular development and athletic capacity which are protective against injury.
34 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER MARCH 2021
•S pecialise after reaching puberty. Youth athletes who do this have been found to perform more consistently, have fewer injuries, and participate in sport for longer. •N ot participate in more hours of organized sport per week than their age in years. •B e monitored close for injury or burnout if participating in specialised sport for more than 16 hours per week.
growth and change that youth athletes are at a greater risk of injury. Participating in extensive high intensity sports training may also alter growth rates in adolescents. If a young athlete does suffer an injury, it is encouraged to get them reviewed by a specialised sports and exercise doctor or physiotherapist.
How to optimize opportunities for young athletes and avoid injury risk
Biological development of youth athletes
•U nstructured play is a great way to improve motor skill development.
Sports performance can be affected by a range of physical and physiological variables and can improve as athletes grow and mature. However, this is not a linear process and some young athletes may grow quicker and faster than their peers. It is during these periods of
•M ultisport participation can help to develop diverse motor skills which can help with improving performance outcomes later in life but also reducing injury risk. •P eriodised strength and conditioning should include a component of integrated neuromuscular training
