Frequently Asked Athlete Questions
Question: Is strength training safe for kids?
Answer: Yes. Strength training has been shown to be both safe and effective for ages 6 and up and is approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Sports Medicine. The volume and intensity of the workouts, however, needs to be different than for adults.
Question: Does my child need to be an elite athlete?
Answer: No. We train everyone from beginners to top-level youth athletes.
Question: What if my child has never lifted weights before?
Answer: We have a series of progressions based on how experienced your child is.
Question: Do you do sport-specific training?
Answer: No. A good strength training program develops the strength and power to excel in all sports. Attempting to mimic sports movements in the gym can interfere with your swing, throw, shot, etc., or increase your risk of overuse injury.
Question: How often should my child train?
Answer: Generally 2-3 times per week during the off-season and 1-2 times per week in-season. Off-season training lays a foundation, while in-season training maintains what they’ve built.
Question: Will weight training interfere with my child’s sports practices and games?
Answer: Our goal is to make your child stronger and faster without beating up their bodies. In fact, our most successful athletes prioritize in-season strength training.
Question: What if my child is already doing a strength training program.
Answer: This could lead to overtraining and burnout. However, if you provide us with details of their other program, we’ll see if we can fill in any gaps.