Is weightlifting okay for kids?

It seems that I get this question on a fairly regular basis - and justifiably so.  As a parent, a person always wants to make an informed decision on the activities that their kids are going to participate in.  When you are not informed or knowledgeable on a specific activity it is easy to be led astray.

There are many misconceptions and myths about youth and weightlifting that are out there.  Some of these include stunting of growth, high rates of injury and damage to joints.  All of which are completely false.  Young athletes will hurt themselves more seriously and more frequently pursuing conventional sports (hockey, soccer, football, etc.).

The benefits of strength training in youth cannot be overstated and as long as the program is administered with good coaching, realistic expectations, a safe environment with proper equipment the physical and psychological benefits are unparalleled.  Some of those benefits youth trainees experience are, but are not limited to: (List compliments of Queensland Weightlifting Association)

• Improved Muscle tone
• Joint flexibility
• Improvement in motor skills and motor skill acquisition
• Increased Strength, power and speed
• Improved body composition
• Batter cardiopulmonary function
• Improved overall sports performance
• Greater confidence and self esteem 

As an individual who is trusted to guide youth through the pitfalls of the training world, I take my job very seriously.  I spend hours instructing, drilling, fixing, modifying and correcting movement prior to any trainee ever touching a weight.  Once trainees are ready, the process of training is started slowly and is paired with a mentorship process and a supportive community that allows youth to help and coach each other, while being coached by an experienced coach at the same time.  As a person who has spent his life training people and training kids, I could continue to share the benefits I feel are associated with youth training programs, but the point of this post is to provide you some links, to viable sources, so that you can verify what I am saying with the experts (Doctors, therapists, Medical journals, etc.) who are trained in medical sciences and human kinetics.  For more information on
youth strength training, see the links below and enjoy the read :)  

1. https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/Are-Weights-Safe-for-Kids.aspx
2. The Physician and Sports Medicine Journal - Strength Training for Children and Adolescents
3. British Journal of Sports Medicine - Resistance Training Among Youth Athletes; Safety, Efficacy and Injury Prevention Effects
4. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine - Weight Training in Youth; Growth, Maturation, and Safety; An Evidence Based Review
5. CrossFit Journal - Kids and Weightlifting: Dispelling the Myths

I hope that in the future I will have the opportunity to work with more kids in helping create healthy life long fit individuals, increase the performance of athletes and begin the creation of the next generation of "real" strength and conditioning coaches.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding youth and training I urge you to reach out and contact me so that we can discuss it further and help put your concerns to rest :) 

Posted in: