Speed training has become one of the most important aspects of any athlete’s training program. Young athletes now have more opportunity then they once had and many are taking advantage of it. If you watch sports you know that speed on any playing surface can be the difference in wins and losses. Take Oregon football for example: They have, for the last decade, been quite possibly the fastest team in the country and have been a force in college football.

The younger an athlete starts the higher the ceiling becomes.  The main reason I recommend starting athletes out young is all about form and technique. If you can teach them young how to position arms, strike the ground, start, etc. they will already be ahead of others that choose not to, or don’t have the resources.

Speed training is NOT throwing out a speed ladder, hurdles, bands etc.  There is much more to speed training than that. If you have ever signed yourself, or your child, up for a speed program and they first thing you see is a speed ladder laid out, ask for your money back. This is the lazy or uneducated way to speed “train”. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is definite need for those resources but it doesn’t start there. It starts at the toes to the top of the head with good posture in between.

At Infinity we run a six week program starting Oct. 13th that consists of movement mechanics, explosive movement, agility, reaction, acceleration and core development. Our program has been very successful. It has been creating a visible difference in our athletes and it is being used on every type of field and court. If you are the parent of an athlete or an athlete yourself, I recommend finding a speed program that is near you. It will change the way you play the game.

Mike Sheahan, CPT, PES, CES, NASE

Should your child train during their season? Very simply, yes they should. In-season training for athletics seems to be lost at lower levels (high school and below). Coaches are doing their best to game plan for the next game, set practice schedules and probably have a separate full time job. Many coaches are also the strength and conditioning coaches at the high school level in the off-season, but they don’t have the time to train the kids properly in-season. Then there are some coaches that don’t realize that in-season training is as important as off-season and preseason training.

Key reasons to train in-season

• Injury prevention
• Maintenance of strength, power, agility and flexibility

I would urge you to talk with your child’s coach or admin to encourage in-season training. If a current program does not include training, then the work your child put in during the off-season will waste away rapidly because there isn’t proper maintenance being done. The difference between winning a state championship and losing early in the playoffs can be made in a gym.

My recommendations are to have a well rounded in-season program, 2-3 times per week, that includes hypertrophy, muscular endurance and also strength and power exercises. I would also recommend a flexibility program or coach to keep your athletes at full functionality. At Infinity Fitness we run a Sports Performance program, which is offered year round, and has athletes making strides, not just maintaining but also excelling during their seasons. Please contact us if you, your child or your child’s team would be interested in training with us: info@infinityfitnessaz.com

Mike Sheahan

The answer is simple. There are too many electronics and too much junk/processed/fast food.  I could share study after study about how electronics make children sedentary,  as well as the pitiful nutrition habits of America’s kids, but I will save you the boring read.  Get your kids off the couch, off of the smart phones, out of the pantry, and into a gym.  Even if it isn’t here at Infinity Fitness, do your son or daughter or grandchild a favor and get in one somewhere near you.  Your child already has a couple practices a week for basketball, you say? That’s not enough.  It’s important to add steady cardio, injury prevention, resistance training (and no, it won’t to stunt their growth), and core exercises to each of our young people’s weekly routine. 

Here are two more REALLY good reasons to your child involved in a youth fitness program today:

•  Performance enhancement   Every parent wants their child to have an edge over other children.  For most, it is related to a sport they play. Fitness programs 2-3 times a week for 30-40 minutes can change a young athlete’s abilities dramatically.  Injury prevention goes hand in hand with performance enhancement – the more a child can build his or her musculature around their joints, the less susceptible to injuries they become. I know, as a father myself, that keeping a child safer trumps just about anything else.
  

• Beta Endorphins  This is a chemical that is released within the body that is a “feel good”, also referred to as a “runners high”.  Beta Endorphins create a sense of euphoria in the body after working out.  It’s the same feeling you get after you’ve worked out – happy, energized and ready to tackle life. Studies have also shown good fitness practices have a positive effect on academic performance, improving their mental capabilities if the child is exercising at least 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes or more. 

To my understanding, schools are are doing away with more and more of the time young kids have to be active in favor of more time in the classrooms, and ultimately, sitting down. My belief, share with others I’m sure, is that it’s just adding to this country’s problem with childhood obesity. Youth Fitness programs are great for the young athletes, but it is also great for any kid.  I love to help all shapes and sizes build confidence and build better self images of themselves.

I am well aware of the amount of time that has gone into discussing the topic of childhood obesity, but helping kids get fit and enjoy it is my passion. I know this isn’t news, or a fresh concept, but maybe it’s a little bit of a call to action. Our kids don’t realize that these kinds of bad habits can slowly kill them.  It is our job – as parents, a community, coaches and trainers –  to give them the tools to make good choices and be healthy adults.  Start right now…if you are reading this, get up and go for a walk with your kid. 

Mike Sheahan, CPT, PES, NASE