Should young athletes strength train?

Strength starts with movement

Before worrying about heavy loads, look at posture, balance, stability, landing, body control, technique, pushing and pulling, controlling force. Those are all part of becoming stronger.

Why does strength matter?

Sport constantly asks the body to produce or control force. Sprint. Jump. Land. Change direction. Absorb contact. Hold position. The stronger and better controlled the athlete becomes, the more physical options they have.

But more weight isn't the goal

This is where youth training can go wrong. The aim should never be to simply see how much a child can lift. Technique comes first. Control comes first. Progression comes after that.

What we see at ASP

Some young athletes are incredibly skilled in their sport but haven't developed the physical foundation underneath that skill. As the game gets faster and opponents become stronger, those physical qualities start to matter more.

That doesn't mean we suddenly throw them into heavy gym training. It means we develop the athlete progressively.

Training should suit the person in front of you

Two athletes can be the same age and require completely different training. That is why individual observation, assessment and coaching matter.