Obesity is on the rise. So much in fact that instead of rejecting unfit applicants, the US Army has modified its physical training and selection process. In one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of its kind funded by The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, American children become less active once they hit the teen years: While 90 percent of 9-year-olds get a couple of hours of exercise most days, fewer than 3 percent of 15-year-olds do.
15 to 20 years ago, every high school program had full varsity teams, junior varsity teams and middle school teams. Now, most schools are dropping some staple programs like football due to lack of participation.
I’ve seen our area program get cut in half and suffer over the last two decades. While there are still good kids and elite athletes, the talent level of the average to the above average player has declined severely. If you took the average wrestler, soccer player, football player in 1984 and put him on the field today, that kid would be all-league. The median athlete is almost gone. What you have are elite athletes and kids who really shouldn’t be on the court at all.
The problem is this: kids are starting younger and specializing sooner. Kids are specializing in middle school when they should be specializing in college. Year round training, specialty training clubs, elite young travel teams have taught parents that if you’re not playing year round, you will not succeed. It has taught kids that if you’re not the best, don’t bother.
The results is that by the middle school age when sport participation is most critical. This is when kids get involved in drugs, promiscuous activity and crime. Let’s face it, if you’re a teenager, you’re going to need to do something with the excess energy and time on your hands. Since this is the time kids become more independent they are left to their own devices. Finally, on a social level, sports create a common, positive interest that encompasses both the physical and if taught correctly, mental development as well.
The ironic issue is that compared to 15 to 20 years ago, the level of participation in youth sports has almost doubled. Kids can play any sport, year round from the age of 4 or 5 and up.
Well, the younger, year round idea is not working. I don’t need the study from The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to tell me that. The result is that the average athlete has been ignored and this has consequently lowered the level of skill significantly across the board. Now elite athletes are attending private schools with other elite athletes, leaving the other schools to try to compete with kids who fundamentally have been ignored for most of their careers since the tendency of coaches is to focus on the better kids in hopes they don’t leave the program for a private one.
My feeling on the subject is this: focus on the team. Focus on the overall scope of the program, not just one or two kids. In a few years’ time your program will be head and shoulders above the competition.
One or two studs may make a program for a few years, but eventually even those kids are going to understand what it is to be part of a team. The elite kids will get their supplemental training, don’t worry about that. But if you wan to really build a program, or more importantly, raise a child with the best possible chance of reaching their potential, help them to be stronger, faster and agile.
Raise athletes not specialists.
An athlete can do every thing, a specialist only one thing. If and when it comes to pass, your kid will make a decision. But until they’re in college, make sure they train to be bigger, faster and more agile.
Kids ages 5 and up. If you want them to do anything, have them run short races, kick a ball, some basic gymnastics and basically play. As they get older around 8, you can do it in a more structured manner, but no more than 35 to 45 minutes, two time a week. This should also include basic calisthenics. Sports are done IN SEASON ONLY. Stacking sports like indoor soccer wrestling or basket ball is nuts. When they’re younger they can do more than one sport in season. (Like wrestling and basketball) schedule permitting. However, when they’re young they can try one thing one season and another, the next. Or even attend a sport clinic if they want to try it. The options are there that weren’t around 15 years ago.
Off season if you want you can have them attend one or two camps per sport per year. Give them at least a few weeks off in the summer of nothing. After all, they’re just kids.
As far as physical training, that should be done consistently throughout the year taking every 5th week off.
In season physical training, in junior high and high school is tough. A full class day, study and practice, it’s hard to find the time to do the in season physical training. It turns into only once or twice a week if you’re lucky. By this time you should be narrowed down to two or three sports. When and if you get to college, well, that’s another 40 hour a week job and a whole other level.
Until next time, Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company
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