When your child has been heavily involved in a sports activity in high school and performed well, you (and your child) may be considering how to prepare for collegiate level sports. After all, there can be big changes on the horizon for athletes transitioning from high school Seniors to college Freshmen – greater intensity, a longer schedule and even stronger competition. There are a few key aspects required in a summer training preparing your high schooler for the next level.
Greater discipline is key
True, your former high school athlete probably has plenty of discipline – during the school year, when surrounded by coaches keeping them on track and one competitive event after another (and/or my program). But once they throw that cap in the air upon graduation, kids can be less inclined to maintain consistency in their training even when their future college coaches send them a training schedule. Many graduates wait for a training program to start before they get serious about conditioning-but that is too late and can impact not only their playing time in college but can contribute to higher injury rates.
That’s why it’s important for me to keep the athletes in my program very engaged and accountable, so that I see them more frequently than I ever might have during the school year – twice a week at a minimum. The summer is actually one of the best times to build up strength and conditioning for athletes in school sports.
This also very much applies to entrants into West Point, the Naval Academy and Air Force Academy who have to prepare for basic training – let’s just say you can’t show up to any of those places with a body that’s in less than ideal condition.
Functional training specific to the sport
All athletes should have a natural agility and functional mobility. But every sport demands a different type of strength and power – in the right parts of the body.
For example, we don’t want pitchers to develop large biceps when they have an aggressive throwing motion. We don’t want swimmers to develop kyphosis, which is a curve in the upper back that comes from the shoulders rolling forward. Rowers use their legs, back and triceps when they row – but we don’t want them to be so much weaker in other areas of the body.
So it’s vital to design a strength and conditioning program with exercises that support those other areas, while reflecting their natural movement patterns for their sport.
Have they truly found their “natural” sport?
On more than one occasion, an athlete who is very good in one sport can be absolutely dominating in another. It’s merely that they haven’t discovered the natural sport that they are the very best at. Some athletes have a body that calls for explosive power while others are better suited toward endurance sports – but it’s not as obvious to them.
Does your athlete have the explosive power of a shot putter and not realize it because they have focused on an endurance activity? Conversely, do they have the strengths of a rower but never would have considered that due to being in a different, more explosive power activity?
Let’s get them ready for their best years yet.
The Body By G Sports Performance program is perfect for every aspiring athlete from the middle school level to high school to the NCAA collegiate level. We work with athletes in sports that include, but are not limited to:
- Rowing
- Track
- Throwing
- Swimming
- Aikido
- Ice Hockey
- Soccer
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Field Hockey
- Water Polo
- Wrestling
- Football
Our strength and conditioning program features intense 60-90 minute workouts that encourage functional movement, foot speed and agility, power development, weight training and functional strength. To schedule a free initial conversation about Sports Performance training for your young athlete with Giulia Isetti, Ph.D., call 708.267.7173 or email g@coachingbyg.com.