Forcing children into sport-specific training can be detrimental.
A 400 percent increase—that’s huge. If we were talking about your deadlift, that would be spectacular. Instead, we’re talking about a 400 percent increase in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in children.
The rise is largely due to children’s lack of general physical conditioning and the increasing trend toward early sport specialization, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the organization Stop Sports Injuries.
What does this kind of knee injury mean long term for a child? Devastation. It isn’t just knee injuries, though. Career-ending elbow and shoulder injuries are on the rise. Concussions as well.
Career-ending injuries at age 12? How could this happen?
Little leagues have a pitch count for kids, right? But this is only for games and doesn't include warm up pitches and throwing from other positions. When you take into account practices and kids specializing in sports at earlier ages, all these throws add up quickly and take a toll on young arms. I started playing baseball at age 8. Now kids are able to sign up for tee ball at age 4.
When I was in Kindergarten and Elementary school, I remember staying after school and playing different sports and games on the playground with all the other neighborhood kids. That doesn't happen anymore with kids being rushed off to games and practices every day.
Also fewer and fewer kids get a chance to have PE class in school as those are the first to be cut when schools struggle. That is where kids learn functional fitness. (ie running, jumping, tumbling and gymnastics movements)
So the solution? Let your kids just be kids and let them make fitness fun and it will last a lifetime. At a young age, let them play the sports that they want to play. There is plenty of time later in their childhood to specialize in a single sport if they are talented, enjoy the sport, and want to play that sport in college. Until that point, don't keep them away from general fitness and those long afternoons learning to throw, catch, shoot and run with friends.
The rise is largely due to children’s lack of general physical conditioning and the increasing trend toward early sport specialization, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the organization Stop Sports Injuries.
What does this kind of knee injury mean long term for a child? Devastation. It isn’t just knee injuries, though. Career-ending elbow and shoulder injuries are on the rise. Concussions as well.
Career-ending injuries at age 12? How could this happen?
Little leagues have a pitch count for kids, right? But this is only for games and doesn't include warm up pitches and throwing from other positions. When you take into account practices and kids specializing in sports at earlier ages, all these throws add up quickly and take a toll on young arms. I started playing baseball at age 8. Now kids are able to sign up for tee ball at age 4.
When I was in Kindergarten and Elementary school, I remember staying after school and playing different sports and games on the playground with all the other neighborhood kids. That doesn't happen anymore with kids being rushed off to games and practices every day.
Also fewer and fewer kids get a chance to have PE class in school as those are the first to be cut when schools struggle. That is where kids learn functional fitness. (ie running, jumping, tumbling and gymnastics movements)
So the solution? Let your kids just be kids and let them make fitness fun and it will last a lifetime. At a young age, let them play the sports that they want to play. There is plenty of time later in their childhood to specialize in a single sport if they are talented, enjoy the sport, and want to play that sport in college. Until that point, don't keep them away from general fitness and those long afternoons learning to throw, catch, shoot and run with friends.
3 Rounds 2:00/1:00 rest
3 Thrusters with Medball
5 Burpees
10 Air Squats
Skill
Thrusters with DB's/ Barbell
Test
400m Run For Time
WOD
6 Minute AMRAP
6 Pullups (Jumping if needed)
6 Box Jumps
