1) Given the opportunity, most children will attempt to eat junk food. Upon questioning their desire for crisps and snacks they reply ''but sir it is good for me, it will give me energy''. Education is needed in this area and I propose it is one of the most damaging areas for athletic development, especially with the children I work with.
2) Rugby playing teenagers believe Back and Arms day constitutes a ''hard'' session. Movements not muscles boys........
3) Teenage girls believe S&C consists of getting ''massive''. Again the media has not helped in defining this stereotype and therefore it has provided an initial struggle to get numbers to sessions, but things are going in the right direction.
4) 5th formers (15-16 years old) are at a crucial stage when it comes to their athletic development; they are becoming more aware of the gym, more aware of the ionic protein shake, more aware of body-building magazines and more aware of their ability to play a high level of sport. I coach this year group rugby at the school I work at and it has been fascinating helping them start on a right road towards their hopefully successful athletic future. However, the pressures of playing school/club/county have meant a few boys have been playing twice a week, there was even a case of 4 games within 8 days for one child!!!! Functional Overreaching or Over training!
5) Certain sports develop certain muscular characteristics in young athletes: Rugby + overload of bench press = anterior deltoid dominance and poor posture. Hockey + incorrect running style = muscular imbalance due to unilateral playing style.
If you have any observations on trends in youth sport please feel free to comment below
