Strength and power training for young athletes

New insights into the design of youth athletic development have highlighted the importance of ongoing participation in well-designed resistance training programmes due to the unique health-, fitness- and performance-related benefits associated with this type of training. As muscular strength underpins many biomotor abilities and performance attributes, weaker athletes are less likely to reach their full athletic potential and more likely to suffer a sports-related injury. Increasing resistance training skill competency and muscular strength early in life will set the stage for more advanced training later in life. Although there is not one resistance training programme of proven efficacy for all young athletes, technique-driven progression and systematic variation of programme variables over time may result in the greatest long-term benefits. As time goes on the importance of individualisation of programmes becomes apparent due to the inherent genetic differences among children and differences in strength/power training and overall fitness goals. Notwithstanding the critical importance of learning the technical and tactical aspects of different sports, there is no substitute for young athletes being strong and powerful.