I've been fighting this fight for a LONG time.
I always say, The Kids are #1. Yet, when it comes to what happens in the weight room, I do NOT see this. I see administrators turning a blind eye to what happens in high school weight rooms, even though we've seen / heard on the news SERIOUS injuries (even death) occur due to unsafe training methods.
- Do high school kids NEED "Navy SEAL Training"?
- Do high school kids NEED to test their 1RM in the squat, bench and power clean?
Here are 5 straight forward reasons why high school athletes need EXPERT Strength & Performance Coaches running the weight room:
1) Safety, Safety, SAFETY!
2) Efficacy & Results
3) Long Term Safety
4) Addressing Individual Needs (Physical & Mental Needs) of Athletes
5) Changing Lives / Teaching Life Skills
Watch the in depth explanation in this Video:
Travis Mash's Article on Why We Need Expert Strength & Conditioning Coaches at the High School Level
Benefits of a Full Time High School Strength Coach Article by PJ Graybeck
The Case for High School Strength Coach Hires
Why Your High School Needs a Qualified Strength & Conditioning Professional
The common theme I hear so often is budget concerns and money.
Again, I've heard HUNDREDS of qualified Strength Coaches tell me how they've done outreach and offered to volunteer for the local high school and not 1 email was replied to, be it from sport coaches or admins.
I KNOW we're all "busy" but I answer all my emails and I get about 50 emails a day.
I plan to keep on fighting for these kids and making moves to bring qualified Strength Coaches to the forefront in high schools.
Congrats to those who are making it happen already!
Feel free to share this with parents of athletes, Athletic Directors & Health / Physical Education Supervisors.
Publications on Youth Weight Training Injuries:
Faigenbaum, A. D., & Myer, G. D. (2009). Resistance training among young athletes: safety, efficacy and injury prevention effects. British journal of sports medicine, 44(1), 56-63.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Myer, G. D., Quatman, C. E., Khoury, J., Wall, E. J., & Hewett, T. E. (2009). Youth versus adult "weightlifting" injuries presenting to United States emergency rooms: accidental versus nonaccidental injury mechanisms. Journal Of Strength And Conditioning Research, 23(7), 2054-2060.
https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.
Myer, G. D., Lloyd, R. S., Brent, J. L., & Faigenbaum, A. D. (2013). How young is too young to start training?. ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal, 17(5), 14-23.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
____________________
Resources for Strength & Conditioning
The Underground Strength & Sports Performance Manual
More Info HERE
