The secret to hydration

Water and hydration is crucial for athletic success and human movement.  For the ability to allow our body to age gracefully and perform at optimal levels we must stay hydrated.  But how much do you understand the ability of the body to hydrate itself and what can we do to further improve our ability for increased hydration.

We need to MOVE!  And we need to move in a variety of ways.  This truly is the key to improving hydration through our system.  Drinking enough water throughout the day is only one step in a healthy level of hydration.  Our fascial system is a connection of tissue throughout our entire body.  Think of it as a net or a spider web of Soft tissue that surrounds and wraps around all structures of the body.  It’s a connection system and is also an enormous store of water in the body.

Thomas Myers The originator of the Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians explains through the Anatomy Trains website that “Fascia is the biological fabric that holds us together. You are about 70 trillion cells all humming in relative harmony; fascia is the 3-D spider web of fibrous, gluey, and wet proteins that hold them all together in their proper placement.”

We need to get water into the tissue by moving the body and the movement needs to vary to allow the fascia system that weaves its way through the body to be hydrated.  As we move and exercise water is squeezed in and out of tissue.  Without moving in a variety of ways the water we drink throughout the day has less of a chance to hydrate us efficiently.  The less we move, the more “stiffer” we feel.  This restriction or tightness may also happen due to inflammation and injury and usually the Fascia is ignored as a main cause of pain.  Thomas Myers (Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapist) explains that fascia has 10 times as many nerve endings as there is in muscle.  This is an important fact for individuals looking to reduce pain, inflammation and improve recovery.

For the athlete who ignores recovery and trains heavy on a regular basis you must be reminded that this training drives water out of the tissue which may lead to an increase in that feeling of stiffness.  Recovery should be doubled in the form of sleep, nutrition, massage or whatever options help you recover to an optimal level.  This is important for athletes looking to reduce their risk of non contact sport related injuries.  Keeping the soft tissue healthy is a great way to reduce the risk.

What are easy steps to improve hydration?

Drink water!

Move your body in a variety of different movement patterns!

RECOVER with enough sleep & clean nutrition.

Incorporate additional recovery choices like Massage, relaxation & stress reduction options.

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Help save the athletes!

I am calling out to all the athletes in this beautiful world! Isn’t it wonderful to see the transformations and the strength gains through training. The ability to push the Human body to extremes…. Oh, but wait… Extreme really isn’t a word that sounds enticing. It actually sounds a little crazy and in the end will it build an athlete that can move and play better?

I actually wonder why it has become such a badge of honor to pound your body into the ground and think it’s an acceptable level of training? The one thing an athlete must cherish is the thing they are destroying! Their BODY! Their machine! Their bread and butter!

I have been fortunate to work with very high level athletes. These athletes have had many years of play behind them. These years of playing their sport have also been tough on their bodies. Lack of mobility in a joint, little stability in another. The fact that their “so called core strength” really isn’t strength at all, its compensation! For me, it becomes rebuilding the athlete into healthier, higher quality movement so they can keep playing their sport. Undiagnosed impingement, Labral tears, Patellofemoral pain syndrome. This becomes the avenue of rebuilding the athlete!
The concern is many athletes have undiagnosed issues and train through them. Squatting ass to grass may work for one person but how do you know if your hips can even get into that position without compensation or further hip damage! THIS IS THE PROBLEM! Each individual athlete must strive to build a BETTER athlete, a better body to save their career.

It has become so normal for an athlete to push themselves to extremes without knowing why! Is the drill challenging an energy system? Is the drill building on your strengths? Do you ignore your weaknesses? Is lifting heavy weight really helping if you have no understanding of Core tension or breath? Do you understand foot position, head position, grip, lat tension, big toe function. Are you ½ kneeling, tall kneeling? Should you be doing pushups or working on scapula motion first? Does your core react to the movement or are you compensating around it?

WHY ARE YOU DOING THE THINGS YOU ARE DOING? Are you building a GREAT athlete? Or just doing a hard workout?

STOP thinking that harder is better! Everything you put your body through now will either move you toward greater success down the road or push you closer to injury. That injury may not show its face now but trust me, it will and wouldn’t you hate it if suddenly it showed up a year into a new contract from previous years of crappy training.

Yes you must train hard, yes you must push the limits and challenge yourself but you must be smart and understand WHY!

The Window

It’s interesting to see the dynamics of children involved in sport. The fights, the jokes, the display of honor, the dedication and the smiles involved.
Sport! I can’t imagine a life without it. I see the benefits it brings for all kids involved. The friendships and the fun as well as the learning through movement as each child plays and performs at their own level. The amount of growth and ability they gain each year is fascinating.

The innocence and beliefs at such a young age seem to go unnoticed and ignored by so many adults. Yes, it’s frustrating at times and annoying but it’s those times of reflection that make you realize that being an adult…. can suck, because as an adult we all create the baggage of politics involved in Youth Sport. Well, maybe not all the time but we sure do lose a lot of the innocence we had as children. I look at the dynamics of boys and sport. Why boys? Because I have 2 and see those dynamics differently then what I believe things were like as a girl growing up.

I watch how boys react to disagreements. They usually lead right back to friendship. The emotional attachment is tight in a sense that friendship overpowers any dislike. One minute a friend, the next fighting over a goal scored during mini hockey but right back at friendship the very next minute! I see this in boys and it fascinates me! As an adult, why can’t we step away and look through that Window and appreciate the same qualities.
Here is the fine line with adults involved in youth sport! The window becomes cloudy and our competitive nature takes over. I believe sport is a learning tool but I also believe there is a competitive nature tied to any game. We can make ourselves feel better by saying “it’s all about the kids and winning doesn’t matter” but how do you explain that to an 8 year old when he is cheering on Team Canada to win the Gold medal or Sidney Crosby who is holding the Stanley cup high over his head! This is winning and how can you not be competitive when at such a young age they understand the outcome.
But….
What if our children learned from each other instead of their coach? What if they practiced together with no adults or did not overhear an adult conversation expressing frustration. Would they complain about the ref? Would they be upset if they lost a game? That would be an interesting window to look through!
As an adult the emotions can win over and frustration sets in but this is where I look through that window and realize that adults need to appreciate disagreements and agree to disagree. The very next minute smile and talk about the weather! Why can’t parents accept that frustration, deal with it and move on without a grudge? Politics in sport would dissolve and Sport for kids would be just that…for kids! I say we all need to be like boys!

Adults will argue. Adults will wear rose colored classes while looking at their children. Adults will be competitive and adults will always want the best for their child BUT the world of sport would be a much better place if each adult & parent would appreciate that not everyone is right. We all come with our own values and beliefs but as long as we agree to disagree our kids will enjoy their sport so much more!
Look through the window and see how your child reacts. Sometimes it isn’t so bad and we are the ones making a big deal of something so small. Let go of the baggage and have some fun!

The view from Inside

As he rides the bike watching Sport highlights Stacy Roest is still holding his own in the retired hockey player workout department. No matter how much we razz each other, it’s all based on respect, fun and friendship. He is one of the most respectful men I have ever met. Stacy Roest had a great career in the sport of Hockey. 17 years in the NHL and Europe with the high-powered Detroit Red Wings and the Minnesota Wild. He concluded his career with 9 seasons with Rapperswil in Switzerland and was a member of Team Canada in 6 Spengler cups before he hung up his stakes as a player. He now continues a career in the NHL community as The Director of player development for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
I spent many years training Stacy through the summer with fellow trainees Chris Osgood, Eric Godard, Steve Kelly, Tyler Wright and Matt Higgins. Still not sure which one was the biggest talker!
I was interested in learning more from Stacy and his experiences as Director of player development in Tampa, his view on Minor hockey and youth today, the growth of the sport and his hockey journey through the years. We did this all with only one jab about my taste in music!

The difference for me as a trainer with these guys is I never felt I had to really PUSH them MORE. They pushed themselves, they pushed each other! They HAD to beat the other guy. That work ethic showed and that is one reason they played so many years in the pros. How important was that to Stacy? “At that level it’s so important to train with the same sport athletes and someone who can push you to a higher level”. They wouldn’t allow the other to beat them, they worked hard and they had to because staying at the pro level is a challenge in itself. “No matter how hard you work, there is always someone working harder than you. You have to have that mentality”. Two standouts for Stacy in the workout department throughout his career were Steve Yzerman and Chris Draper from the Red Wings. “Those two guys were the hardest workers I’ve ever seen in the gym. They taught me so much about work ethic”. That work ethic is a perfect example on the length of their career and their play on the ice.
How does this apply to the 17/18 year old player? So many are on the same level and it’s the extra effort off the ice that shows. How well is their 3rd period performance? Do they have the conditioning level that allows that great play to continue? “If they are good in the 1st period, they have to be good in the 3rd, and that is good conditioning”.
“Those are the game breakers, the players who continue great play through 3 periods and who are able to score the big goals in the 3rd period”.
Good advice to prospects that Stacy works with and to younger players who feel they have a shot at the big league!
As a trainer I see the toll a long season takes on the body. Hockey is such a fast, physical sport. Non-contact injuries or aches and pains that make their way around a dressing room seem to be consistent everywhere in Hockey. “Groins, back, hips were always the same areas that would be a complaint from players”. This is why a structured off-ice training program is so important! “It’s so important to get good training to keep you healthy and extend your career”
Skill development is also a key factor. “You can always improve your skating, your stick handling, shooting. These are skills that the pros still put countless hours in. If you think you have the skill, work harder, be better. Always look for improvement in skill development”. Work ethic wasn’t an issue for Stacy throughout those summers of training. He worked hard, he pushed himself!
“You must always ask yourself when you look in the mirror, are you proud of the work ethic you gave? That is always the one thing you can control”

I spent some time talking to Stacy about youth development and the growth of Hockey in Canada. What it is like to be a coach and father of a son who plays. He had a quick response to one of my first questions. What he felt was one downfall in minor hockey today. “Too much emphasis on winning” He made a great point. How can we keep the numbers up? How can we avoid kids quitting the sport we both love? Is that emphasis on winning pushing young kids away from the fun of hockey? Stacy also sees the importance of skill development. Through his years in Switzerland he experienced their emphasis on skill development compared to system development. Skating, stick handling, protecting the puck…. Skills that make you a better player! “You can practice break outs, power plays, penalty kills all you want but if you can’t skate, if you can’t shoot, if you can’t pass, if you can’t protect the puck then you are missing the mark”

What about multi-sports? Year long hockey is the norm for so many kids. We both agreed on the importance of multi-sports and how this makes a well rounded athlete. This topic was a no-brainer!
As both our kids make their way through Minor Hockey the controversial topic of hitting came up. Should there be? Should there not? What is right? By taking hitting out of rep at this level is it keeping players in the game longer? Are the smaller players enjoying the game longer? “Does this improve skill development because you have the ability to carry the puck a bit longer?” I had a conversation in the summer with clients Aaron Volpatti, (Washington Capitals), Jerred Smithson (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Brady Brassart (Calgary Hitmen) about hitting at the pee wee level. It’s interesting to get their views with all the experience between these players, they give some great feedback.
“Who is teaching them to hit?” Is there so much growth difference at the bantam level that it isn’t a good age to introduce hitting? Should it return to pee wee? We could debate this topic forever but Stacy brings a good question to the table. “Are we teaching our kids to take a hit and finish their check or are we just teaching them to ram other players into the boards?” Through his minor hockey Stacy remembers being taught to finish checks and to stay in the play. It wasn’t about big hits or head shots. With the controversy of fighting, head shots and concussions it comes down to the players. “It’s respect for each other as a player. The only way it can be cleaned up is by the players, the players at every level”

Between sport highlights and making sure his wife, Billie, was training hard in the next room we ended the conversation with something that stuck with me. We talked about parental involvement in sport. “We all want our kids to succeed, hockey is a commitment, it cost money but as a parent how are you going to deal with decisions and outcomes. If your child gets cut from a team are you going to move forward? Will you learn from it to make yourself a better player? Our reaction as parents clearly plays a role in how our children respond. They react how we react”
It’s another controversial topic because we all know too well the negative situations that some parents can create while they are living their dream through their child.
“As a player my one regret was being too hard on myself early in my career. If something happens and you make a mistake, learn from it and get better… improve”

Thanks Stacy. We spent some quality time without making fun of each other! I wouldn’t have it any other way. We keep each other on our toes! Now stop complaining about my music and give me my Tampa shirt?

Hockey Conditioning – is there an off season?

The Sport of Hockey is my favorite, yup, best ever!  I’ll say it again FAVORITE sport to play, watch and learn.  As far as I’m concerned it would be pretty tough to convince me otherwise!  I won’t go into details of the skill, strength, speed, power…  I’ll keep going, but as I said, I won’t go into details! 

I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing athletes as they prepare for the upcoming Hockey season and concentrate on the previous seasons physical hiccups.  As our youth become more absorbed in the sport and parents look for avenues to excel their child it’s a fine line between work and play for these kids.  Remember, the athletes I work with in the summer train because it’s their career!  They need to stay on top of their game but how do we help young kids who dream of Hockey for life and keep the parents pulled back from extreme situations that may lead to early burnout? 

It’s easy….. work with someone who KNOWS.  It should be fairly easy to say to parents “let your child have fun, let them play different sports and let them experience what it’s like to be a kid”.  This is the best way to develop your child!  But lets get serious here, you have all heard that before, I’m sure, so I might as well share what you are looking for! 

Through the years of working with athletes especially Hockey there are always the same issues in the gym we tend to focus on.  Maintaining mobility (athlete specific) is usually at the top of the list.  Now, does the athlete feel “tight” because the body is in protective mode or are they truly tight?  (That is a different article) but to keep it simple maintaining functional mobility for the athlete will help reduce injuries and allow the athlete to make some gains in the gym.  This isn’t an off-season goal, it’s in-season as well!  There are many games and practices but not much focus spent on off-ice training. Moving a joint in several ranges of motion can feed the joint and keep it healthy. This means a well balanced program with different movement patterns. Incorporating head to toe training which allows Sling systems (fascia/muscle) to do their job. Move in full range, gain strength and force production in full range. If you have actually stopped to appreciate the ability of movement ranges the human body can perform ON ICE, wearing skates at high speed you will soon appreciate why a balanced training program is so important.
Get strong and stay strong! Strength is a foundation built upon an even BETTER foundation of symmetry. Do you have pain? Are your hips “tight”? Does your shoulder hurt? Then why would you gain any possible strength if you do not address these prior limitations? If there is a problem (even if you don’t feel it) it will become an even greater problem!

If you are a parent looking for an off-ice program for your child there must be some individualized assessment/programming involved. You are setting your child up for success at a later date. Yes, there will be gains BUT as your child grows you are entering into different windows of opportunity and believe it or not, these gains will show their face down the road. This means MAKE GOOD CHOICES NOW!

Current client Jerred Smithson who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs says it best below (Thank you Jerred)

“Over the past few years I started training with Rhonda. During this time she has really opened up my eyes and mind when it comes to properly training and preparing for my upcoming hockey season. She really helped me realize the importance of proper technique as well as not only working hard but working smart. As I get older in ‘the hockey world’ I’m starting to notice in my training more aches and pains from years of not training smart and using improper technique at an early age. She’s helped me correct a lot of those issues and I already notice a huge difference in my training and on ice performance. I honestly believe if I would have started training with Rhonda when I first started training for hockey, that I would not have had to battle through these aches and pains and my on ice performance would have been a lot more efficient and explosive. I would recommend Rhonda to anyone who is wanting to better themselves and get the most out of there training.”

The years spent playing Hockey (or any sport) take their toll on the body but it may take years to realize. Make good choices and make them now!

(Photos: Left Michael Statchuk BCHL Vernon Vipers, Michael Roberts BCHL Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Jerred Smithson NHL Toronto Maple Leafs)

 

Keeping the Shoulder Healthy!

With the hockey season now getting into full swing the Vernon Vipers are continuing their in-season training with Catt Conditioning. 4 days per week you will find the team training in the facility. For the hockey athlete it’s important to maintain the strength they have gained in the off-season while continuing to improve tissue quality, mobility and stability and help reduce the aches and pains that come with such a high intensity sport. Shoulder injuries are one of the main injuries that arise. Some being contact injuries through hits in a game and others because of the high repetitive demands of the game and life.

Hockey is an amazing sport! Who can argue with the speed, intensity, power and even grace of being able to perform on skates and ice! How can you deny that it’s the best sport in the world! (at least in my books!) It’s important to keep the athlete healthy and injury free.

The shoulder is a very interesting topic. So much dysfunction from the shoulder can come from everywhere surrounding it. The guilty parties are busy creating havoc on the shoulder, never getting any attention while the shoulder gets all the blame. For everyone who suffers with some type of shoulder dysfunction but has never been involved in a contact injury, maybe it’s time to search elsewhere!
Yes, look AWAY from the shoulder!

Our first order of business is looking at the Thoracic Spine and the neck. If there is a Neurological problem in the neck this can refer to the shoulder. Improper breathing patterns can lead to shoulder weakness and dysfunction. Lack of Thoracic spine mobility can lead to shoulder dysfunction. Do you see how so many things play a role in the health of our shoulder!

With a restriction in your breathing pattern such as reduced diaphragm breathing and dominate shoulder/chest breathing the muscles that should help you move, lift and load during sport or exercise are fatigued. You tire quickly without achieving your goals in your fitness program such as pressing or pulling patterns. Another fact is with proper breathing this increases expansion/mobility through the Tspine. In order for our Thoracic spine to move freely it needs us to breath correctly or in the end we become restricted and shoulder range is lost.
Trigger points in the upper traps, lats and other areas continue this restriction and stretching may only increase this restriction because the muscle is trying to protect itself. Massage therapy and Self Myofascial release is the best way to reduce trigger points and increase range.
Once mobility is gained and thoracic stability is then included then we can move forward to more of a loading phase but if you skip any of the important steps above you will fight through the remainder of a conditioning program without making the gains you strive for!

What steps should you take first in achieving a healthy shoulder? Start with these 3 simple steps first.
1. Look for a qualified professional who can perform an FMS (Functional movement screen) and explain your results.
2. Reduce trigger points in the upper trap, lats, and additional areas in shoulder, upper back. Trigger point work with a tool you can tolerate such as a Trigger point ball, tennis ball or a partner can use a massage stick or dowel rod.
3. Perform mobility such as rib grab, push/pull rotation patterns.

There are several additional steps but getting going on the right path is never a bad thing.

Sidelying push/pull for Thoracic mobility
Lay on your Right side with your legs pulled up to hip height and stacked together. You can place a rolled up towel or Yoga block between your knees. Rotate away from your legs (to your left) and reach both arms up to the ceiling. Exhale your air out as you pull your left arm down and push your right arm up. Elbows should be straight. Squeeze the knees together to incorporate added stability. This will help improve the mobility needed at the Tspine (upper back). Maintain straight arms and have the movement come from the upper back only. Repeat 3 times then change to the opposite side. If one side is worse, spend quality time on the restricted side until you find a balance between both.

http://www.functionalmovement.com

Remember…they are just kids!

Remember…they are just kids!
Before I had kids, it was always a goal of mine to keep them busy in several sports! I wanted them to lead a healthy, active lifestyle and have them appreciate Sport as much as I do. The benefits are endless even though many in this world would disagree, keeping a child healthy and active is one of the main reasons for physical and mental rewards on all levels and can transfer to adult years.

Prior to organized sport I never realized the dark side of what can come. The politics involved in each sport and the views and beliefs that get tested along the way. I find myself at many times saying “they are just kids” but I need to pull myself back and make myself BELIEVE this mantra more then I ever thought I would! It’s a true test of Character for many.

As adults we seem to forget the learning curve we had as kids when we learned a new sport. Or, taking up a new sport as an adult and experiencing the laughter and enjoyment of the many times you screwed up! Why is this lost on our children when a 10 year old decides to join a team years after his friends have already been playing? Remember, they are just kids! Their enjoyment is lost through the adult negativity and resentment of a child who isn’t up to par of the others. They are learning….Remember…They are just kids!

As a parent, I want my child to succeed! What parent doesn’t? I want him to be successful at school, in sports, making friends and being respectful to others. I want my child to have the confidence to score goals, kick a soccer ball and challenge their opponent without feeling like they will fail! We can be harsh on ourselves as adults but to be harsh on a child for failing while trying to learn!…Remember… they are just kids!

The Adult dream of success is driven deeper into children but to what expense? Remember…they are just kids!
A change of address in order for your child to pursue your dream! Remember… they are just kids!
A coach’s player choice in order to win! Remember…they are just kids!
A yearlong single sport instead of developing a well-rounded multi sport athlete! Is the dream of Sport really their dream? Is the fuel behind the desire coming from you or your child? I, for one, will admit my competitiveness drives me in each sport I play. I hate to let my team down if I make a mistake. Is this the same feeling a child experiences if they missed that shot? Is this the same disappointment they feel from their parents or coach if they fail? Aren’t we supposed to support and encourage our children to be healthy and happy? Is this not our #1 goal as parents?

Remember…. They are just kids!

I give you a challenge. I challenge you to look for your Childs smile while they play. I Challenge you to remember YOUR laughs while watching. I challenge you to ask if they had fun. I challenge you…to challenge yourself and find the child IN YOU!
And, to Remember… they are just kids!

“You can break an Athlete with their hand”

I love that quote! Stuart McGill along with many other amazing minds in the Strength & Conditioning industry led the Perform Better Summit in Long Beach, California this past weekend. It is the biggest rush meeting and hearing these presenters. What more could you ask for! The best motivation to push you even further into making yourself better!

Stuart McGill reminded me how important grip strength is in an athlete. No, I never forgot why grip strength is important. Never ignored it, never thought it was a can of beans. His seminars just made me remind myself to keep going! To keep pushing myself to understand further! To ignore the times when people would look at me funny when I talked about how important grip strength is. Stuart McGill motivated me to stop thinking little things are little things!

The hand is taken for granted. The hand and it’s magical power that transfers throughout the body is taken for granted! The ability to beat an opponent because your central strength is amazing and because your grip strength plays a role in that, is brilliant! The Human body truly is more amazing then we can imagine.

Does your grip strength rob your shoulder of true potential? Does your grip strength rob you from higher sport performance? Does your grip strength not allow you to lift an amount of weight you can be successful at lifting? Have you even thought about it?

Well maybe it’s time you did!

The midst of Hockey season!

(oops…I started writing this post in September and quickly stopped…time to finish the entry since it’s NOW December 26 and the hockey season is 1/2 way through…well, at least the Minor Hockey season is!)

I have one more week of freedom as a parent.  Hockey season is upon us!  Yikes!  Two boys aged 9 and 6 both love the sport as do their parents so it really isn’t that bad.  I actually love watching the games and practices and how much all the kids progress through the season.  But it shifts my thoughts back to the summer hockey schools and the year-long play for many children.  Developing your child for one sport only just makes me cringe.  YES, there are the kids out there who want nothing more then to play Hockey and there is nothing wrong with that BUT it’s their choice!  As a parent, please see the value in having your child experience other opportunities for nervous system development.  That means, playing more and enjoying different sports and activities will only help in your childs movement and sport development.

I am fortunate to work with high level athletes.  One of those athletes is Aaron Volpatti who is signed by the Vancouver Canucks.  I met his parents this summer.  Aaron dragged them to a stair workout which I’m sure they weren’t too pleased about.  Afterwards I ran into “talkative Tony” at the Wesbild Center, watching the Vernon Vipers practive.  Aaron and a few others were hitting the ice for a pre-season skate.  Jerred Smithson, Chuck Kobasew, Andrew Ference to name a few.  The talent these guys have is amazing to watch and when you train them in the summer, it’s even more exciting to see their talent close-up.

It was great to hear stories on the young life if Aaron Volpatti and is training or lack of during many years.  Tony talked about the years of youth hockey and the additional sport and fun Aaron had AWAY from the rink.  It was great to hear stories from the eyes of a hockey dad and how important it is for a child to experience fun and sport away from their favorite sport.

What many parents don’t understand is there is also risk to having your child play one sport year round.  RISK?  I hear you say… WHAT sort of risk?  There are several.

• Year round play in one sport may decrease performance in many development skills.  The more random, unstructured play, the more variety in their activities will allow the nervous system to learn patterns.  The more movement patterns the body knows and can perform the better the athlete.
• Repetitive movement patterns can lead to injuries.  Over time the aches and pains can show their face… it may not happen right away but trust me…. it will happen.
• As a child spends all year playing one sport what is neglected is true strength to play the sport.  Many parents want their child to play the sport without any solid training program which means lack of strength, stability, power development and more.  In order to “get better” you need to “train better”.
• TRAINING IS KEY!  You will not break a child if they “lift weights”.  If you think about the stress that goes through the body during tasks such as stopping, turning, jumping etc that you see in sport, lifting a weight in a controlled manner is the least of your worries.  Getting a child strong is a positive thing BUT this doesn’t mean treating your child like a bodybuilder is the answer and NO I’m not telling parents to throw their child into a gym.  This point is to recognize the importance of strength!  The importance of movement control and co-ordination.  The importance of foundation building is crucial for sport success.  Think about it…does your child even know how to STOP properly and why is that even important?!!

There are several critical points to be made but it’s Boxing day and I think it’s time to stop working.  Plus, I’ve ate too much in 2 days to keep sitting on my ass!  If you are a parent, please appreciate the development benefits of variety for your child!

Now, time to play with my childs Marshmallow gun he got for Christmas.  I’m sure that counts too!