16 year old girl - deadlifts okay?

[SofaGeorge]

I have a 16 year old foriegn exchange student this year (from Germany.) She just made the volleyball team, is a sprinter, and is really enthusiastic about being in California... to her the birthplace of physical fitness culture. She is coming to the gym with me and is really excited about starting to weight train. (She has opted to train like a bodybuilder instead of a powerlifter. I'm old school where bodybuilders trained to be strong too.)

I've worked out with a lot of women athletes, some at the very tops of their sports, but I don't have a lot of experience with "girls." I stress the "girl." Sunny is 16 and in what I call the "skink" phase of development... elbows and knees everywhere and not fully developed. She's obviously grown like a weed this last year and her body hasn't caught up with it. ("Skink" is a slang term that describes the inbetween phase between being a puppy and a grown dog. It's the awkward phase where they are shooting up everywhere and haven't filled out.)

My problem:

I'm most used to training my wife. She was a highly competative amateur bodybuilder. She was adamant about certain lifts -deadlifting, squating with freeweights not Smith, etc... all the basics that so many people ignore. I'm watching Sunny's gangly little body as we try to work on her deadlifts... and I guess to say it bluntly... I'm a bit concerned.

Is it okay for a 16 year old who is still growing to deadlift? We are starting her pretty light... only 75 lbs right now for 8 reps. I am not trying to max her out or take her heavy. We are only working on getting her to lift with good form... but even 75 lbs is making her work at this phase of her training. She could do more... but she is still working hard with this weight. (I think mostly because it is an awkward new movement for her.)

She is smart and soaks instruction up like a sponge.

I've always considered deads an important basic... a foundation exercise... but I am also not confidant in my knowledge of 16 year old girls and what is best for them.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I take her to gentler exercises the first year like leg presses or are squats and deads a good idea?

 

[SofaGeorge]

I did bench, squat, and dead when I was 16...I wouldn't say I was gangly though. Keep in mind that just because she's a "skink" doesn't mean she's not strong. If she has explosive power, as most sprinters do, she should be able to do very well. IMO, the most important thing is her FORM. Even if she just does the bar until it's PERFECT. Sumo deads will certainly help her sprint. I was a freshman in college at that age, and no one restricted my training at all. I did what the rest of the team did.

Spatts, thanks!

I'm very used to pushing my wife in training - mostly because she wanted to be pushed hard.

I've been very nervous with Sunny and constantly checking myself. I want to guide herr by what will be best for her - not just by what I am familiar with.

Deads it is... and sumos it is.

Thanks again!

 

[GinNJuice]

Sofa,

I had a question about having my son start to weight train. I did a search and found this artical by the AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS.

Please check out this link:

http://www.aap.org/policy/re0048.html

It should answer your questions and pretty much goes along with what has been said here = 8 to 10 reps with good form and safety.

GNJ

 

[SofaGeorge]

Thanks all. I've always been monster adamant about perfect form.

I guess I really shouldn't even be so nervous about her training. She is a smart resilient kid, and I'm not having to fight her to get her to understand the importance of form.