Ways to Get (& Keep) Young Athletes In Shape
It’s time to return to the classroom – and playing field – for many kids and young adults. In fact, more than 38 million children and adolescents participate in organized sports in the U.S. each year. Like anything, preparation is key. Here are some tips to help student athletes achieve top performance and remain safe no matter what the sport – basketball, football, hockey, cross country or soccer.
1. Combination Training
While the intensity and volume of exercise will differ for younger children and teenagers, all workouts should combine resistance and sport-specific training. Sport-specific training addresses the skills and movements a sport requires, while resistance training increases overall strength, power and endurance.
Resistance exercise is an essential element of fall training since, as an analysis of any game or event confirms, most athletes require explosive power, muscular endurance and maximal strength in order to excel. Therefore, products like the NZ Manufacturing TurfCordz® line should be an integral conditioning component for power athletes such as football and rugby players, as well as those involved endurance events like cross country.
The TurfCordz Resist-Assist provides resistance training in multiple directions for two athletes. Used for core strength and agility workouts, it can help young athletes develop greater acceleration and explosiveness through start drills and power-building footwork exercises.
2. Injury Prevention
Approximately 3.5 million children receive medical treatment for a sports-related injury each year. Sixty-two percent of sports-related injuries occur during practice. To prevent acute and overuse injuries, teach your youth proper routines for both warm-ups and cool-downs before and after practice and play. Also, be sure kids are in the proper physical condition to play the sport, follow the rules, and know how to use their athletic equipment. Plus, always make sure adequate water or other liquids are available to maintain their proper level of hydration.
3. Healthy Lifestyles
To make the most impact on the field, student athletes need to make adequate sleep and a healthy diet part of their daily routine off the field. They should eat whole foods – like milk, lean meats, fruits and vegetables – as well as avoid high-fat, high-sugar foods such as ice cream, candy and french fries. What’s more, kids should limit their consumption of those popular energy drinks that contain caffeine and ephedrine.
So when it comes to fall training, don’t fall behind. Now’s the time to tweak your team’s routine for peak performance. The right training will help your youngsters be the fastest, strongest, most agile athletes they can be on the field, court, or rink this season. And NZ Manufacturing TurfCordz® are here to help. Order yours today!
Please Note: Always talk with a qualified healthcare provider before initiating any exercise program.
