Lifting Young for Big Results

Hello Everyone!

Let me start by making one statement clear, IT IS SAFE FOR YOUNG KIDS TO LIFT IN A SUPERVISED ENVIRONMENT WITH A CERTIFIED EXPERT. I'm not sure how it began, but the myth that lifting at a young can stunt growth and damage growth plates is not supported by scientific research. On the contrary, scientific research has shown that supervised lifting for young kids strengthens their growing skeletal and muscular systems, along with developing a more coordinated nervous system. (see article, Strength Training in Children and Adolescents: Raising the Bar for Young Athletes)

Having your son or daughter start lifting when they are mature enough to follow instructions for extended periods of time (which can happen as early as 7 years old) is one of the most powerful advantages and opportunities you could give your child.

Why? Because young athletes improve their training-age quickly. What is training-age? It is the age (hours) of experience you have invested in training. In Malcom Galdwell's book, "Outliers: The Story of Success" he states that the "10,000 Hours Rule" is a huge factor for success in any skill. Through examples and research Mr. Gladwell shows that practicing a certain skill for 10,000 hours (training-age) is one of the biggest factors in success.

So, the 7 year old that starts learning how to lift safely at AGSP (with light, appropriate weights and 100% supervision) will have 7 years of practicing strength training by the time he/she is 14 years old! That's half his/her life! All those hours of practice are hours that a non-lifting 14 year old can never get back. When the non-lifting 14 year old gets to 7 years of practicing strength he will be 21 years old!

The sooner you start investing time into proper strength training with a qualified expert, the faster you see results. And who wouldn't want their son or daughter to be strong?

We welcome younger athletes to try AGSP for a complimentary free trial. When athletes are 12 years of age or younger it is at our coaches' discretion after the trail session to determine if they are mature enough to benefit from our world-class program.

Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance

Training Tips with Coach Anthony

Hello Everyone,

In an effort to help improve your athletic performance, reach your goals, and achieve your full potential, Akron General Sports Performance has decided to start posting regular videos of training tips, motivation, and advice! This first video installment focuses on the topic of training hard and pushing yourself beyond your perceived physical limits.

When you train, how hard do you push yourself? Are you able to regularly venture into the realm of discomfort, or do you seize up and roll into a ball of self-doubt when it comes to putting more weight on the bar, running a little bit faster on the treadmill, or throwing on a 20lb weight vest? Whether you realize it or not, your mindset bears a direct relationship to your athletic performance and the results you get in training!

Listen up and take notes! It's time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable!

 

Keep Training!
Coach Anthony Colarusso and Akron General Sports Performance

Lifting for Athletic Performance (Part 3)

Hello Everyone!

Continuing with our posts about why lifting for athletic performance should include exercises like the Olympic Lifts (Part 1 or Part 2). This post will give athletes and parents a better understanding of the most important (and beneficial) part of the Olympic Lift, the overloaded triple extension.

Overloaded Triple Extension in athletic terms simply means jumping with resistance. Now let me clarify that "jumping" in Olympic Lifts is not trying to get your feet off the ground as far as possible. In Olympic Lifting it is getting the barbell off the ground as far as possible.

Triple extension refers to the three joints of the hip, knees, and ankles extending in unison. This action is crucial for athletes (think rebounding, tackling, hitting, throwing, shooting, diving, kicking) since these athletic skills all require explosive unison of triple extension for an athlete to be successful.

As a side note, when your joints do not extend in unison you are at a greater risk of injury. In fact, many baseball players' elbows and shoulder problems stem from lack of unified extension of multiple joints (especially at the hip).

Olympic Lifting is all about triple extension, and when you get good enough, adding resistance (load) to the bar so you can get stronger triple extension. When you step off the weightlifting platform and into the realm of sports, you take this overloaded triple extension training and suddenly find yourself jumping higher, hitting further, throwing faster, tackling harder, kicking further, serving faster...and the list goes on.

 
Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance

Recruiting Webinar: Learn the Difference, Find the Right Fit

Hello Everyone!

Local recruiting expert Coach Kelly Kennedy posted an amazing recruiting seminar titled, "DI, DII, and DIII: Learn the Difference and Find the Right Fit". I highly encourage you watch this almost one hour long seminar. It will be an hour well invested for all you want-to-be-college-athletes out there. Instead of wasting an hour on social media, invest in this hour that could truly impact your athletic career!

Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance

Keep Your Chin Up

Hello Everyone!

"Keep your chin up" is a coaching cue we use to help our athletes achieve better speed biomechanics and posture. Yet, recently it has been a phrase of affirmation that I have been sharing with some of our hard working athletes.

Like,
The freshman cross-country runner who kept up with the seniors during recent time trials.

The collegiate freshman who is lifting more than most of his upper-classmen teammates.

The freshman basketball player who has the potential to take away a lot of playing time from the older players.

These athletes have been busting their butts at Akron General Sports Performance all summer long and have completely earned their results. Yet, the athletes that they are going to take starting spots and playing time from do not know about their hard work. None of these other athletes have seen the consistent discipline that these freshman athletes have had to become better. So sadly, these older athletes may not be very nice to these high-achieving freshman athletes.

This is why I have been encouraging our athletes to "keep their chins up" and not allow older, but not as hard-working, athletes hold them back from achieving great things in their athletic careers. 

Always remember, you are only 100% responsible for yourself. If other athletes chose not to work as hard as you that is not your fault. Do not let their lack of poor choices keep you from maximizing your choices (like to train hard at AGSP all summer long)!

Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance