The article for our last week of Blog Posts is about weight lifting and if there should be an age limit on when it is too soon to start. Think about when you first started to lift? Was it when you were younger and you were just working on body weight exercises like squats, push-ups, and pull-ups? Or were you not taught proper lifting techniques until you were in high school or even college? Do you think that children should be allowed to lift at such as young age? Or should they be allowed, given proper supervision? What are the pros and cons of such actions?
Let me know what you think! This assignment is due on Monday, April 9, 2018, by 11:59PM
Time In Weight Room Comes With Pros and Cons For Young Athletes
In my personal opinion I think children should be allowed to lift, with that being said, they can lift all they want regarding they are using the proper technique, proper weight amounts, and getting enough rest. The pros in this situation are that the children will get a head start in any sports they are playing, will get stronger, and be able to inform their other teammates, classmates, or friends on the benefits of lifting and if their peers are using improper technique they can help correct them. However, the cons in this situation are that if the children are unsupervised they may hurt themselves or others, fracture a growth plate causing them to stunt their growth, and they may overdo or improperly do exercises if not supervised properly. When I say they should be allowed to do weight training, I really mean they should be working with low weight exercises, or working on perfecting their form so that when they are able to begin increasing weights they already know the proper amount to lift and how to properly do it. When I began to weight lift I was in 8th grade, and I really didn’t do much with actual weights. It was mainly with body weight or with just the bar so I could work on form and learn how to do the various exercises.
ReplyDeleteIn my own personal opinion I think that child should be able to lift at whatever age they feel like it. Lifting is often used to improve strength and power in sports. I know that many people think that starting weight lifting to early can cause an increase in future injuries, so that is why I think it is so important for kids to start younger and learn the correct technique, proper weight amounts, and how much their body can do. Getting an early start on lifting can help let the kids focus more on basics and learning the proper form, which will only help them in the future. I think that it is important that kids understand proper weight lifting. It is bad to see kids who are trying to lift more than their own body weight. Although starting weight training at such a young age has its pros, it also has some cons. A common cause for concerns in weight lifting is that afflictions occur more. Injuries normally only result from improper execution, so for kids to start lifting earlier the injuries result should only decrease. One of the most dangerous parts of having a child lift is if they find an ill-informed trainer, so it is important to find a well rounded trainer when looking to lift. Most people believe that strength training in youth can also stunt growth. The article state that it will not interfere in growth unless a growth plate is damaged already. I know that in high school it took me a long time to learn proper weight lifting technique because I was never taught when I was younger. It is crucial to understand and recognize that weight lifting is not absolutely necessary to live a healthy lifestyle. Adolescents and preadolescents just need a good diet and general physical exercise to remain healthy. However, this article did a good job emphasizing how the pros out weighed the cons when it comes to youth and strength training.
ReplyDeleteIn this article it states that many parents have unproven stigmas against children weight lifting as adolescents due to the fact parents believe it stunts growth. This is untrue and as long as children are supervised and using proper lifting technique the pros far out way the cons. The pros of lifting young means you can master the technique at a young age and have great form in all lifts once in middle school and HS. The cons can be trying to lift weight that is too heavy and risk injury. Strengthening lifts can help be a preventative measure of injury if lifting with proper form is done. Making sure kids eat health with vegetables and have healthy physical activity should be great for strength while growing and the only harm could be to a growth plate.This is why adolescents lifting should have proper supervision and light weight so no damage to growth palate of a growing child can occur. Personally I think it is okay for a child to lift their body weight as a child with push ups, pull ups an body squats. I wouldn't want my child to risk injury at such a young age but once he/she mastered the form of lifts once in middle school I would let them move up toward free weight and strength training.I never started lifting until high school and I wasn't great at my form for the first year and couldn't move much weight, but once I mastered my form, the weights I could move increased drastically. I personally agree in the idea that if you lift consistently and eat healthy this is a great way to decrease chance of injury as I haven't had any drastic injury in any sport since I started lifting consistently towards the end of HS and into college.
ReplyDeleteIn all honestly I didn't start lifting weights until I started 8th grade and that wasn't till the end of the year when I started training with the women's soccer team for my high school. However, in the past years like 4th grade and up was when I started doing body weight stuff like squats, pull ups and etc.. I didn't learn proper lifting skills until my freshman year in high school. My soccer coach at the time owned her own crossfit business so she knew what was right and what was wrong when it came to lifting weights. In my opinion when it comes to children lifting I don't think it should be a problem as long as they're supervised and taught the proper techniques. In fact I feel like them getting an early start at a young age can make a difference when their older. Also some kids are dare devils so they aren't afraid to step out of their comfort zones. I know this because when I was younger I did gymnastics with my sister and I wasn't afraid to do certain stunts whereas my sister was terrified and I actually move up past her age group. There are more pros and cons with letting a child lift but the pros can outweigh the cons if done in the right way. Some cons would be like messing up a growth plate but this can be avoided if the child is being supervised and taught the proper way with the right amount of weight. So yes I think it's a great idea to have the younger generation lifting.
ReplyDeleteI probably started weight lifting when I was in middle school which would be exercises like push ups and squats. However, I was not taught proper lifting techniques until I was in high school. They taught us these techniques during gym class my freshman/sophomore year. According to this article, the pros of weightlifting at a younger age defiantly outweigh the cons. For the most part, weight lifting for younger people can be beneficial if they have the proper form. This can giving them training and experience for when they are older. It can also help them control their movements when they use light weights. There can be cons to weightlifting at a young age when the individual has an improper technique or lifts too much which results in injury. There can also be problems when an young person is taught incorrectly and takes those techniques into adulthood. In my opinion, I think that it can be beneficial for a young person to start lifting. However, I think that they should be given light weights and be taught the proper techniques to use, so the individual should be monitored closely because you do not want them to cause damage to their body in any way. This could be very useful, so they will know how to properly weightlift when they grow older and can do it to gain muscle and strength.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started to lift I was a freshman in high school and I still started out very light. Even before this I was taught proper lifting techniques from a certified strength and conditioning Coach for football. And my dad thought it was a bad idea to start lifting weights too early for the same reasons discussed in the article, so I really started lifting weights more seriously as a sophomore. And prior to that it was mostly just push up and pull ups type of body exercises. I personally think that children younger than fourteen shouldn’t lift weights and to just give their bodies a chance to develop a little bit, that way you don’t stunt your growth and prevent injuries from improper lifting. I feel like this because this is what I was taught and while they’re younger they probably think they have it under control, and don’t have proper supervision. Pushups and non-weight lifting exercise can be useful until that child is completely ready. But if proper supervision is around and parent is okay with it, I see no reason why the child shouldn’t be able to. Also, if they know they potential effects it can have on their bodies.
ReplyDeleteI first started lifting in the 7th grade for Track and Cross Country to help build up my lower body strength for running. We would do different workouts that ranged from squats to calf exercises. I wasn’t taught how to properly taught how to do squats until about freshman year of high school and knowing what I know now, the way I was lifting was completely wrong and I could have injured myself badly. I personally think that children, when they start lifting, should be taught the correct and safe way to lift weights so they do not injure themselves. I believe that it is okay for a student to start lifting in middle school but they should have some type of supervision and whoever that may be should have some type of background with the equipment that the students are using so they are able to teach and correct the students when they are lifting wrong. Starting to lift in middle school isn’t a bad thing, it is when the students are not taught properly how to lift and then they get hurt. I believe that it only benefits them when they are able to lift correctly or else it isn’t working the correct muscles that they want to. In conclusion, Lifting when you are young isn’t a bad thing when they are taught properly and have the correct supervision around.
ReplyDeleteFrom former experience and knowledge I do not believe that children should begin lifting until high school. I know a current high school student who began lifting when he was in fourth grade and hasn't completed a season in football or track in the past 3 years without injury. Although he is ripped, and could outfit seniors as a freshman he has faced nothing but injuries from beginning to lift so young. Many junior high kids are also never taught properly how to lift and try to mimic high school students having no idea what they are actually doing. I don't necessarily see a point in anybody under the age of 13 needing to powerlift. There are plenty of exercises one can engage in to build strength without lifting. I don't think there is anybody who can just "know" how to lift properly. Everybody who begins to weight lift should receive the proper training before starting whether that be age 13 or 25. You can go into almost any gym and see people using improper lifting techniques or who are not properly using some of the machines. Overall, I do not think those under 13 should lift to prevent injury and make sure they have the proper knowledge going into lifting.
ReplyDeleteLifting is a very serious and complicated activity that can be dangerous if not taken seriously. I first started lifting when I was in elementary school around fifth grade. In fifth grade gym class we were taught pushups, squats, and pullups so a young person could lift and get started early for lifting that would come in middle school football. I first started lifting weights when I was in seventh grade, and our football coach taught us all the proper techniques for bench and squat. Those techniques along with some newer lifts would come along in high school sports and continued in what is now my college years. I do not agree with children lifting actual weights, but I do not see a problem with children doing body weight exercises to get a head start when they start lifting in those middle school years of seventh and eighth grade for their team sports. Let’s be honest if a child is lifting it would be hard to keep supervision on them during their entire lift, allowing a window of opportunity for injuries to occur. The two biggest cons of weight lifting at a young age is stunting growth and leading to injuries. I suppose the pros would be athletes getting ahead so they can accelerate at their sport, but with that pro comes the possibility of the two cons. Especially since push-ups, pull-ups, and squats can do just fine until their bodies start to develop and can handle the stress of weightlifting. All-in-all learning proper technique should always be taught and supervised when children start to get into weightlifting.
ReplyDeleteI believe the first time I did any type of extra strength training was when I was fourteen or fifteen. I did everything supervised with a trainer, so I worked on proper technique and everything and I did see a lot of benefits form doing it. I did try pull-ups and squats, I did light weights, some lifting things like a dead lift, but all of it was watched and we were taught the correct way to do it. I then really learned legit lifting in high school my junior maybe sophomore year of high school. That was with my athletic trainer at the school in the summer where he trained me and four other girls. Which I have seen tremendous amounts of benefits from. Coming into college I gained a good fifteen pounds of muscle. I believe that children should be limited on how much they can weight lift because their body is still developing, and you don’t want damage to any growth plates or issues with too much exertion. I believe if a young child wants to start it all need to really focus the correct way to lift weights. I know so, many people in college who do not know the proper way to lift and they complain about sore or painful lower back pain. Where if you did the exercise the correct way with the proper form you should be able to gain strength. Also, I believe that the young athletes should have time to wait to grow some more to make sure that the best health is provided with them. I do think that there are benefits to start the part! I agree with the allowed but with supervision. I believe that the pros to this is would involve a dedicated player. You are able to strength train to be able to still do it in a healthy way instead of getting filled processed foods.
ReplyDeleteTraining as a young adult is said to be dangerous and unbeneficial for the young. There are many pros and cons to start lifting at a younger age. If proper form is not taught and an individual gets injured that is a problem. But that can happen at any age, there are adults that I have seen working out that have terrible form for lifts like squats, cleans, and even snatches. If a young adult learns proper technique to lifting then they will be safe, things go wrong, but that doesn't always have to do with an individual's age. Knowing the difference between and max lift and unhealthy exertion is important. If you are trying to hit a new goal, do not over stress your body and hurt yourself. Knowing the genetic background of an athlete is important, making sure that they are physically ready to handle weight lifting. I started lifting in 6th grade with my older brother. I have never been hurt from lifting, because I was taught proper form and always had someone making sure that I was doing lifts correctly. I think that it is safe for kids to start lifting at ages younger than high school because it can help with coordination and muscle control at a young age, but if an adolescent is first beginning to lift, they need to have someone there to help teach them and to make sure that they are continuing to do the lifts correctly, and will not get injured. Always knowing an athlete’s limit is an important key when doing any type of exercise.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion from personal experience, there does not need to be an age limit for someone to start lifting. I started lifting in the 8th grade, but I did not gain anything from it till my junior year oh high school. That is when I had starting lifting the proper way with a good diet to go along with it. In the article it makes statements saying that lifting weights at a young age is not harmful as long the young athlete is properly lifting and I completely agree. As long as young athletes have supervised strengthening coach with them to make sure they have mastered the technique of that specific lift before adding weight it is okay. Ensuring that a young athlete keeps good technique while lifting it will not causes any injuries or stunt growth. Lifting weights properly will actually help athletes keep up in the level of their sport and also help prevent injuries. If a young athlete does not have good technique because of a lousy strengthening coach then injuries can occur such as damaging a growth plate. This can happen when a young athlete is overdoing it. There are pros and cons to young athlete lifting, but the pros out way the cons.
ReplyDeleteStrength training is important for every athlete if they are serious about what they are doing and want to improve, however when kids are under the age of 10 I don't see the need for strength training because athletics are not that competitive at that age yet. However with that statement I don't believe there should be an age limit set of weight lifting because there isn't much of a risk of doing it as long as the children are taught proper weight, don't lift too much, and have the proper amount time for rest in between. In my personal case I started weight lifting at a young age because my mom is a personal trainer so exercise was instituted in my house, but I manly just did body weight exercises, cardio, and little weight manly dumbbells, and I never was injured from any of it. The possible cons of children lifting at a young age is that they could possibly injure a growth plate,or create back problems, or problems in their feet, however all these can avoided with proper lifting form and not over lifting. Some pros is that as they get older they can stay up with the competitive level, and even excel, and as they get older they would know proper lifting and stay in shape into their adult years.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI started lifting regularly, freshman year of high school for sports. As a team, we didn’t do a whole lot of heavy lifting but were taught the right techniques. We mostly did it to prevent injuries. After reading the article, I think it is alright to let kids lift weights. Having said that, there are some stipulations. Kids should not be aloud to lift by themselves and should have set limits on what they can lift. I don't think children should be aloud to do heavy weight and lift everyday also. Children should be aloud to lift light weight when taught the proper form by an instructor or someone who knows what they are doing. If kids start lifting while they're young, they can help prevent themselves from getting injured and also help them get a head start on the proper forms of lifting. The article brings up that having children lift might cause there growth to be stunted. Dr.Ferrick from the article says that weight lifting will only stunt growth if there is improper form and too much weight. Weightlifting has its pros and cons for any age. Anyone can get hurt weightlifting and anyone can gain muscle and prevent injury from weight lifting. If we want our kids to have proper weight lifting form when they grow older, then we should teach them when they are young starting with light weights and limited reps.
In my opinion, children should not begin lifting until they get to high school. Children that begin lifting before high school expose themselves to the possibility of injuries because they are often not taught proper form. I began lifting my freshman year of high school and our baseball team was taught proper lifting form by a strength coach. In the article, it states that it can be beneficial to start lifting at a young age if supervised and taught proper form. I agree with this statement. If children learn the proper techniques early in their life, it sets them up for a great future of weightlifting. There are pros and cons to starting lifting early in life, some cons include potential injuries like hurting a growth plate or stunting growth. These can all be avoided with proper form and not a lot of weight. The pros include building a foundation for future muscle building and good form. Overall, children should not begin weightlifting until they reach a high school level, and even then they need to only do it if they are taught proper form and don't try to overdue it
ReplyDeleteI started lifting when I made the transition in to more competitive level sports where I was required to have a greater level of overall fitness, this was around age 10. To build up strength I began with endurance and body weight training. I was never formally trained in the proper lifting techniques when I chose to started weight training, but it was something that was expected of me by coaches. It is dangerous for people who do not have any fitness knowledge or access to a fitness trainer to begin lifting without developing proper lifting techniques first I think that children, at a reasonable age, and with a well trained personal trainer should be able to lift or practice proper form. Of course as addressed in the article this should be done with discretion based on the child's health and athletic ability. If weights are being used it should be a gradual increase and nothing that goes beyond the child's capability to avoid damage to their growth. If children are allowed to lift earlier in life they could build both muscle and tendon strength that could serve as a form of injury prevention later on in their lives.
ReplyDeleteThere has been no research found that children should not be allowed to lift then I see no problem with it. I think that they should be allowed to start weight training at whatever age they feel is appropriate for their own self and body. No matter what age you start lifting at, the most important thing is to have proper lifting form. The younger a person starts to lift, the more likely they will be well supervised and taught the proper form to avoid injury, which will only help in the long run. Not only if proper form important, but also knowing your own body’s limits and that weight can always be added when as you age or get stronger. The most important part of lifting for people of all ages especially those who are younger are knowing your limits and not trying to push too hard, like excessive weight, reps, and no rest periods. Weight lifting can be very helpful to athletes for them to learn slow, controlled movements, and strengthen their muscles in ways that cardio activity and body-weight lifting can not. Though it can be helpful to young athletes, it is not crucial for young people to do to live a healthy lifestyle. Proper diet and exercise is what is important, but proper weightlifting can only help.
ReplyDeleteI have been lifting weights since middle school. My coach at the time always promoted proper form and staying within your physical limitations. Before then, the focus was on more bodyweight exercises, simple workouts, and sport specific movements. Athletics are becoming more and more competitive and children begin competing younger than ever before. This leads to adolescent weight training. I think it is okay for children to lift at relatively any age as long as it is done within set boundaries and under proper supervision, so they don’t injure themselves. It is important for athletes to learn the basics and proper lifting techniques before reaching high school because that is when more serious lifting programs are implemented. It is important to build a base of muscular strength in order to help prevent future injuries. In regards to stunting growth, that is a myth unless it is overdone and growth plates are damaged. There are always some discrepancies with who should and who should not weight train. Some issues that may predispose children to injury such as fragile blood vessels and congenital disorders. The pros of children weight training definitely outweigh the cons, but it is also important to implement proper nutrition in order to start a healthy lifestyle early on.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I was not taught proper lifting techniques until I was in high school through sports. I never did any type of lifting before high school besides just body weight exercises with my mom. Not many people agree with children lifting at a young age because they may say it will stunt growth, development, or become detrimental to their health. However, these ideas are not proven true. I think that children should be allowed to lift at a young age with appropriate supervision making sure they’re doing the right form and using the right lifting techniques. Children lifting at a young age would have to use proper form, lift an appropriate amount of weight for themselves, and only train short term. By lifting weights, children can learn to control their movements and perfect their form, so as they grow older, they are able to lift bigger amounts of weights without hurting themselves. It is very important for children not to overdo it. Weight training can provide a form of conditioning for them, but children should only lift in moderation. Bad technique can hurt children as well, so having a supervisor to make sure the child is lifting the right way can help with that issue. Excessive weight training in children can damage the growth plates, but once again, with the appropriate form, amount, and in moderation, children can benefit from lifting weights not only in their current state but also for their future.
ReplyDeleteI have been doing some form of weight training since middle school. The lifting was mainly limited to push-ups, pull-ups, lunges, and other body weight exercises. It was assumed by my coach that I knew how to properly execute these exercises. Once I got to High School my coach began a harder weight lifting regimen. Even then, I was never taught proper form or technique. I personally believe that intense weight lifting should be reserved for adults or those who have matured. As an athlete, I think it is important to focus on proper form and to build a muscular base. With any sort of physical strain there will also be a mental strain. I think that not only should the physical health of adolescents be taken into place, but the emotional health should be considered as well. As we continue to become a society that is focused on health and fitness it may become easier for impressionable children to become focused on how their body looks, not how healthy they are. This may prove to be very troublesome because children are at risk of injury when they have improper form, use too much weight, and/or misuse equipment. Although there are many factors that point to adolescents harming themselves during weight training, there can be many positive benefits if the proper technique(s) and form(s) are utilized.
ReplyDeleteWeight training is a very important part of athletics. It can help an average athlete get the most out of their body. Although weight lifting is helpful it can also cause harm if the athlete is not using proper form or lifting to much weight. Weight training in kids can help them build the muscles and help them stay healthy, but they need the proper form and the proper workout routine. Some people are against children or young people lifting because they think that it can stunt their growth or injure them. Weight lifting will not stunt children's growth if they are using proper form and do not injure a growth plate. Weight training can help athletes increase their durability and their performance on the field. I think that proper form is very important. It is important to teach proper form early in the athlete's lifting career and emphisize it throughout their career. For the topic of children or young people weight lifting, I think that it is alright as long as they are not overdoing it and have proper form. I was not taught proper form until my senior year of high school and I had been lifting since my seventh grade year. Improper form cause injuries that I still have to deal with today. I think that it is good to start kids young for weight training. I think if the child has not hit puberty then they need to stick to body weight exercises like, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and body weight squats. In that time they could start to learn proper form with a broomstick or PVC pipe but no added weight. Once the athlete hits puberty then they will already be ahead of the curve in both strength and form. This is the time that they can start adding weight, but no more than they can lift. Once they are in their later years of high school, sophomore, junior, senior, they can start to lift more and pushing themselves more. Weight lifting gives the chance for athletes to get the most out of their bodies and take that next step.
ReplyDeleteFrom personal experience I was always told that you shouldnt start really young weightlifting. I did not start til I was in high school and I thought that was a reasonable starting point. But as some of the experts said they have not found any real problem in lifting at a young age. I agree that a kid can start young if they are just using their own body weight and just practicing form. I think its a great idea to start young to learn form especially if a kid has a bright future in sports. It does not hurt to start early to decrease risk of injury when they start to gain muscle mass and heavy weights. The cons of this is if there is no supervision watching or training the kid and they start to put on heavy weight with no proper form and can risk injury. With proper training and supervision I dont think its bad for the kid to get a great start off with something that they most likely will use to succeed in whatever they want to do. I wish I could have started earlier than I did so I would know the proper techniques going into high school. Getting a late start could hurt you in the long room especially all the competition in sports these days. Schools also look at muscle mass for recruiting so its a huge part in sports and its just growing every single year.
ReplyDeleteThis article discusses the pros and cons of lifting at a young age and personally I feel as if lifting could affect the body more negatively at a young age than if it had positive effects. I feel this because kids are not properly taught how to lift weights all the time unless they have a mentor to teach them. But according to the article this is wrong. Lifting at a young age can help you control body movements and get comfortable with the techniques. Although young kids must go very low weight high repetitions. The con that this article explains is that weight lifting long term can stunt growth. I have actually had experience with this, one of my teammates on my baseball team in high school stunted his growth by lifting. He did it so much he ended up hurting a growth plate causing him to stunt his growth. This is why I feel lifting at a young age could be very dangerous. Lifting is not for everyone, you do not need to lift to have a healthy lifestyle. Eating goes just as far as lifting does. You can keep up with your health by having a good diet and general physical activity.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal opinion, I believe that there should be an age limit for when kids are allowed to start lifting. By this I mean they should not be allowed to lift weights till they are about 15-16 years old. This means that they can do push-ups, pull-ups, or anything that is body weight lifting. I believe this because I know many people who started lifting at such a young age and learn the wrong techniques and then end up hurting themselves. When I was younger I was forced to lift when I was about 13 years old and since then I have been dealing with some back and knee issues. If we are to start children strength conditioning this early then we need to make sure they know exactly they are doing and no not overdo it. Although I may think this, there are some pros along with children starting to lift early in childhood. One pro is that with sports having such a toll on the athlete’s body, starting to lift early can develop good strength and power. Some cons that happen when children start lifting too early in childhood is that some will lift more weight than they can control and that will cause harm to the athlete. Another con is they have to find a trainer that knows the proper techniques because if they do not they will end up getting hurt. Another con with strength training in youth is that it could stunt growth. Although this is proven to be wrong, it is possible to damage a growth plate while lifting too young and this will stunt your growth.
ReplyDeleteI don’t lift weights. The only time have ever lifted weights is in middle school when I was forced to in my Physical Education class. I was 12-13yrs old through middle school, so that’s how old I was when I lifted weights. I’ve been doing squats, push-ups and pull-ups in Phys. Ed. without weights since kindergarten, which for me was five years old. I think that I myself am really lucky because my gym teachers took the time to properly explain how to use the weights, and went through each exercise and stretched with us to make sure we understood fully and didn’t get hurt. They would also walk around and correct us on our form. That being said, it’s been so long since I’ve lifted weights that I would need to be re-trained. I believe that the progression of how I learned is how others should learn. I started off learning the basics without weights and did those for a long time before I being introduced to weights. After being introduced to weights, I was watched carefully, and I was limited on what I was allowed to do. I think that It’s important for middle schoolers to at least be introduced to weights, because with the societal pressures they feel, they will probably start trying to weight train themselves, and it’s better if they learn how to properly do it from a professional. Not only that, but teaching them how to properly warm up and cool down, and how to find what amount of weight to work with, can all help prevent injuries down the road. Some pros of letting young people lift weights are: that it does help to strengthen and condition muscles, helps them to perform well within their sports, and allows them to create good lifting habits to last a lifetime. I’ve already discussed some of them, but the cons are: if you’re not taught properly, you’re creating bad habits that cause injuries, you could be putting too much stress on your body, which can cause injuries, and long-term weight training can actually stunt growth.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I did not start weight training for sports until my Eighth grade year in middle school for wrestling and football. I was taught proper form when I first began, but I remember my coaches not really pushing proper form and pushing more weight or a ton of reps. So, I really did not lift as much and as often as I should. As I continued through school and into college, I have seen an increase in the importance of the actual form instead of the amount an athlete can actually lift. It has been stressed through high school and college that proper form is so important because I broke my back in the eighth grade and they did not want me to hurt it again. In reality, when an athlete has proper form, they are going to be stronger and healthier in the long run. I believe that weight training and exercising is important for all and that there is not a limit on the age that should start doing it but With the proper form, number of reps per sets, and training, an athlete should train without a problem. I recommend that younger kids just do push up, sit ups, pull ups, and etc because its a natural form of gaining muscle. I think children should be allowed to train at whatever age they please though, but they must do so with the correct technique. These techniques include more than just the correct form. They should also include a maximum number of sets and reps per day, as well at the appropriate number of rest days per week. Before beginning the training, the child should go through an examination similar to an athlete going through a physical. This will ensure that the child has no current injuries or deficiencies that will increase due to training. By doing all of these things, the kid is going to be safer while training and decreasing the risk of a growth plate injury that can affect the rest of their lives. If a child who is still growing was to start training without the proper techniques, they are at extreme risk for those injuries and more. If an adult is wanting to train a child, they must first make sure they have proper form in order to stay safe while working on this strength. Parents need to keep in mind not to push their kids so hard because it could end bad with them over doing it. Overall, weight training is important for athletes to not only make them stronger for better playing, but also to protect themselves from future injuries during a sport.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, I think I find myself mostly agreeing with Bambi Horton’s opinion. Horton, an athletic trainer, says that it is okay for adolescents to weight train, but not so much for preadolescents. In her opinion, preadolescents should not lift more than their body weight. She says, “Pushups, pull-ups, all that stuff is great … but past that, I would avoid the weight room.” Personally, I did not start lifting weight until about 8th grade for track, but I never took it seriously. I never lifted in high school, except in gym my senior year, we learned a lot about the science behind it, and learned proper techniques which I use today. For tennis at Heidelberg, we do not do too much weight lifting throughout the year, but during the winter season we are lifting quite a bit. The proper techniques that I was taught in high school help me a lot, but still, I am not one that hits the gym everyday or even once a month. I stick more to the workouts that we do in the multipurpose room which is more like the pushup, footwork side of things. The pros of starting kids young is basically just so they develop good form and better control of their body. While this is very important, I do not agree that these out weight the cons. Yes, pun intended. The negatives include, but are not limited to, higher risk for injury, growth stunted, which can lead to even greater problems. Horton says you could also weight train short term to prevent this growth stunting, but either way, the kids could have more harm than good. Like it says in the article, weight training is not needed to live a healthy lifestyle, kids can exercise and eat healthily and be fine. I think a good age to start weight lifting would 16 or maybe even 15, but 8 or 10 just seems a little outrageous to me, even with proper supervision. But, that is just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI first started lifting in 7th grade and from this moment, I always felt safe and conscious of what I was doing. This is thanks to my coach and athletic director teaching me about the correct form and how to lift safely. Personally, I never ran into any problems lifting from a young age, but I can see where some kids can injure themselves. I believe young people can learn the correct form and be successful but I believe maturity plays a major part in it. I believe there are some kids that do not take injuries seriously or believe it can not happen to them. In cases where children decide to start lifting, coaches and or parents should monitor their workouts until deciding if the child is able to handle it. In my opinion, I think children should be able to lift as long as proper techniques are taught and practiced. Lifting will help athletes with strength early on, benefiting their overall performance. Teaching kids the proper technique allows them to practice the proper technique and to stick with it as long as they decide to lift. Children lifting should not be a problem as long as they are taught the safest way to do it. One problem that young people may run into is learning improper form or picking up bad habits. In these cases, many of the habits will be carried into adulthood. This can lead to problems and potential injuries. If done properly, learning to lift at a young age can help the athlete immensely.
ReplyDeleteWeight training is pretty important for many sports. It is used to help strengthen the athlete and used to target certain muscles and muscle groups to increase the overall dexterity of the athlete. Most athletes start lifting around Jr. High and high school. During this time, most of these athletes are being monitored but are not always taught the proper form for each lifting regimen. There are some people that also believe that it is beneficial for weight training in preadolescents. However, I do not believe this because both the bones and the muscles are not finished growing all the way. A trainer at Kenmore Barbell and Fitness says that “the pros definitely outweigh the cons.” He says that it helps the kids keep competition levels high and lets children focus on the basics of lifting and proper form. However, I argue that if not taught properly, this could cause major issues in their overall growth and could cause other potential issues. I think it can be beneficial to do body weight lifting for young kids but anything involving heavy weight lifting should not be allowed. Having children start to weight train can be beneficial to some but to others it can also lead to injuries. Having a general knowledge of your overall health and limitations is the most important when considering this.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started to lift it was in 9th grade for wrestling. It is important because it is used for strengthening and conditioning your body to be able to endure the physically nessesities required to participate in sports safely. I believe that starting a child in lifting while they are young is important because it gives them the ability to get a head start and lean all the basics like proper form and technique and will instill the most important aspects in them while their brain is developing the most. If anything it may become a hobby that will benefit their general health in the long run. My only stipulation would be to take it easy on the amount of weight they lift because their bones and muscles are still developing for the most part so as long as you keep the weight low and just practice with them on how essential proper form is it would be very helpful in the long run. If taught properly though it could cause issues in the long run for the simple fact that there are big potential issues like serious injury or learning bad lifting habbits that can carry into adulthood if not careful.
ReplyDeletePersonally for myself I did not learn about proper weight lifting until my junior year of high school when I had to take an aerobics class and go to the weight room two out of the five days of school. Luckily for my class I had a really great teacher that took the time to teach a specific technique to know when lifting weights, along with a group of guys within in my class that helped spot if necessary. From the article and personal preference when a child is around the age of 8-10 they should really be only training with their body weight and if training to teach them how to use bars and such maybe use a broom. A Dr. from Buffalo stated that youthful athletes can lift weights as long as they train in moderation. It is important that children are taught from a decently young age about the proper techniques for weight training because injuries can occur and possibly be fatal if there is improper execution because a child or young adult is not doing something in the weight room the correct way and the safe way. A common issue also heard when it comes to weight training with the younger age is that it may stunt growth, truth though, it will not interfere in that regard, unless a growth plate is damaged. In that case the person needs to go medically get checked out.
ReplyDelete