Young athletes and peaking

Dear ,

A very interesting question was asked on a message board last
week related to elite youth soccer training and preparation -

"We are a difficult time finding a balance in regards to training
all the disciplines it takes to be a great soccer player
especially since it seems that they play nearly year round.

"High school from mid-August to mid-November... Olympic
Development games/training late November through January.  Club
premier level soccer from January through August.  I myself am
a personal trainer however, my daughter has big breakdowns in
her running form, so she had been seeing a trainer working in
speed and quickness.

"She has great speed endurance so we don't need to focus on
that aspect.  She really needs to be in peak performance
for the end of her soccer season (beginning of November) and
for a very important ODP soccer tournament over Thanksgiving.

"The big question: How and how often do we squeeze in speed
training and weight training (to help with power and strength)
when she already is either practicing or having games 5 days
a week for about 2 - 2,5 hours?

"It is a situation I have with many of the high school girls
that I train".

Now, even though the question is related to soccer, it is
certainly a situation that many young athletes face regardless
of the sport.

Here was my response -

"Firstly, how old is your daughter?

"It know it is critical to want your young athletes 'peaking'
for the important times within a season, but it can't be at the
expense of proper developmental progress, which is largely
age determined.

"You always have to remember that solid systemic strength
training is a foundational component of being able to execute/
exhibit quality speed.  Especially with young athletes, there
really is no such commodity as 'speed training' or 'strength
training'.

"Due in large part to the way the CNS homogeneously develops
during the pre-adolescent and adolescent years, ALL training
stimulus effects the biomotors across the board (i.e. strength
training directly influences speed, as does mobility, flexibility
and vice versa.

"Knowing the ODP schedule as I do, I would recommend that your
daughter doesn't partake in any sort of directed 'speed
training' for now.  Especially considering the fact that she
exhibits 'big breakdowns in running form', I would suggest that
you focus on weight room activities that teach fundamental
elements of force production and absorption (technical skill
in compound lifts) as well as mobility/flexibility.

"These stimuli will have a greater impact on her running form
and ability at this point than would directed speed work and
they would also help prevent against injury (which is a HUGE
concern in elite youth soccer).

"Furthermore, when talking about 'peaking' for a certain time
of year, it's important to understand the actual physiology
behind this science and not just throw conventional and vogue
words around, such as 'periodization'.

"Actual periodization and peaking is MUCH more than just
ascending through progressive training stimulus over a given
period of time.  Extraneous factors such as nutrition, sleep
and emotional sensitivity all need to be factored into the
'peaking' equation.

"In fact, effective periodization/peaking is all-but impossible
in contemporary youth sports (especially considering that most
youth sports are played 12 months a year and definitive
transition times are completely negated - which is critical
because optimal peaking is built around a transitional phase.

"So... Get your daughter in the weight room, teach her how to
produce and absorb force, teach her proper execution and work
on mobility/flexibility".

Can you apply those ideas to your own sport and situation?

You know, it's an interesting conversation to wage.

There are great number of Trainers and Coaches in our industry
who cling to the notion of scientific application with respect
to training and conditioning, but I think in doing so, are
missing a tremendous part of the equation.

In mathematics (a topic I profess to know NOTHING about),
finding 'x' is based on the variables set into the equation.

If one misses or negates any of the variables, than finding
'x' becomes impossible.

Now, I say this because I see an over-exuberance in Coaches
and Trainers discussing the merits of training.  Specifically,
the best and most optimal ways to produce speed, strength,
power or athletic skill.

What is missing from the equation entirely, is the notion of
recovery, compensation and the fact that one must consider
more than just the science of training when determining how
best to fit the right conditioning program into the right
situation.

Are your young athletes, as sensitive and systemically
functional organisms, ready for the stimulus you want to apply
to them and prepared to holistically receive and improve from
it?

It never ceases to amaze me how many Trainers and Coaches don't
embrace the fact that more often than not, what is needed is
LESS... not more.

In the case above, this young athlete is on her feet, running,
cutting and jumping literally 12 months of the year - with
little to no time for the other parts of training that truly
serve to make an athlete complete.

Later on this week, I am going to discuss the ideas and merits
behind the YOUTH SPORTS CULTURE.

It is something I have been conceptualizing for some time and
am excited to share my thoughts.

Oh, and If you haven't yet heard...

... My website has experienced quite the face lift of sorts!!

I have re-designed Developing Athletics entirely and encourage
you to head on over to it.

I have over 40 articles available for free, split into
separate sections for PARENTS, COACHES and TRAINERS.

Have a look -

www.DevelopingAthletics.com

Each of my weekly articles will also be available on my
brand-new blog. 

Now, you can comment, ask questions and offer your own insights
for free! 

Just follow this link:

http://www.developingathletics.com/wordpress/

I'm excited to chat with you more!

'Till next time,


Brian