The Importance of Strength Training in Youth Sports Performance

It’s not a mystery that exercise is important when it comes to sports performance. Strength training directly correlates with the progression of most athletic abilities. Correct programming can lead to improvements in strength, speed, and size, among other attributes. Youth athletes are in a great position to make drastic changes in their performance. In high school specifically, athletes are in a constant state of growth. Biologically, they are undergoing many changes, most for the better in terms of physical capabilities. This is the perfect time to push the pedal to become bigger, faster, and stronger.

  Although most high school sports programs offer in-season and offseason training, they are often limited by state laws on the frequency of said training. The majority of athletes participate in required training, but are not as inclined to work towards improvement outside of that. The perfect way to gain an edge over other athletes is to put in extra time and effort. Not only will they perform better in their respective sport, they will also be preparing their body for the next level. If youth athletes are interested in playing their sport at a college level, advanced strength training is the way to go.

As a personal testimony to the effect that strength training has on sports performance, I want to tell my story. As a freshman in high school, with only two years of experience in football, my performance was lackluster. To add to that, I weighed a whopping 130 pounds. I had never engaged in any weight lifting, so my team’s training regimen was my first exposure to it. The first year I did the minimum in terms of training. As a sophomore I decided to work harder in the offseason. I trained with the team, and worked on my own outside of that. I did this all through high school, and it paid huge dividends. I transformed into a key player on my team over the final three years of my career. By the time I was set to graduate, I had gained 60 pounds since freshman year, weighing in at 190 pounds. I was much more athletic, and my strength gave an edge over my opponents in game.

I was not able to work with a professional, but I can only imagine how much more I would have progressed had I done so. When looking to train outside of the school system, working with a professional should be the route taken. Training with someone that programs specifically for each person they work with, is ideal for efficient progression. They learn the ins and outs of each person, and adjust their programming to break through any plateaus the client may face. 

If you would like to talk more about strength training for youths, reach out to me.

I offer a variety of training options including one-on-one coaching, small groups, and virtual training. I would be happy to help you find the right fit for your student’s needs.