whats ur opinion on teens weight training

Dave pft

More specifically young teens 13 or 14. Alot of kids these days are lifting weights for rugby and so on. What is your opinion regarding the risks versus benefits. I know it makes a big difference regarding how far through puberty the kid is and there are risks of bone calcification resulting in stunted growth. The reason for the question is a client has asked my advice regarding her 13 year old son who lifts for rugby.
Has anyone here any experience in this field or suggested workouts for size gains while minimising the obvious risks?

Thanks.

muletide

Used to be in a rowing club that had members from 10 to 50 years of age. The very young kids 13/14 used to have a trainer that would allow them to lift the bars and practice the technique with no weights attached. The idea being when they started to add weights at 16/17/18 years of age - the technique was perfect, the body was used to the actions and movements especially for compound lifts and their strength increased rapidly without injury as a result of bad tecnique.

brianthebard

I don't believe there is any risk and certainly no risk of stunted growth, that's one of the many myths about weightlifting that have been put out ther eby people who don't really know what they are talking about. Weightlifting is not risky provided one uses correct form, like any sport. In fact if you consider the collisions and stress put on a childs body playing field sports weightlifting is probably less risky. Here is just one of many articles a quick google on this topic will find you;
http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/strength-training-children.htm

Dave pft

brianthebard wrote:

I don't believe there is any risk and certainly no risk of stunted growth, that's one of the many myths about weightlifting that have been put out ther eby people who don't really know what they are talking about. Weightlifting is not risky provided one uses correct form, like any sport. In fact if you consider the collisions and stress put on a childs body playing field sports weightlifting is probably less risky. Here is just one of many articles a quick google on this topic will find you;
http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/strength-training-children.htm

I understand what you are saying. But, there is a big difference between collisions on a field and repeated repetitions with a weighted load on tendons and ligaments which have not fully developed! Truth is in order to develop size you gotta lift heavy weight and im aprehensive of the effects of that on a 13 year old.
Il take a look now at that link, thanks.

brianthebard

That's true, but the collisions would be much more damaging with the weight of another person plus all the force and acceleration they have built up than the stress that would be put on their ligaments. Tendons and ligaments grow when you lift weights too you know. Its not as if you start a child off lifting 100kg like any adult you start them with a weight that can be managed.

Hanley

How many docs do you think see destroyed joints from sport (eg knees) compared to weight training (eg squat?). Just something to ponder.

Obviously you don't want to start overloadign the weights too early, and at this stage technique should be absoluely paramount!

I think the best thing a 13/14 year old could do for their strength would be to spend a good 12-18 months drilling the olympic lifts and adding weight slowly as they progres. This is gonna help them in all aspects of their sport... flexability, speed, strength, agility... and once they become proficient at them they'll be in the 16+ and can really start to push things and turn into true monsters on the field.