Age for beginning weight training kids

[bblazer]

Just wondering what age do you all deem appropriate for kids to begin a serious weight training program. It can be for BBing, PLing or even sport specific.

I ask not only as a youth PL coach, but also since there is always a debate about growth and the effects of such training on that growth.

B-

 

[joe d]

any age for basic aerobic type training, 10+ for an actual training program with bw and some light weight training, 12-14 high rep range strict form, 15+ its time to really start. but those numbers are to be on the safe side. puberty is the real time telling factor. after that inintial faze of puberty they are ready. this is what i follow with my kids and their doctor is in agreement.

 

[joe d]

the main issue i see isnt the growth stunting since food will fix that its the lack of ability to recover and the joint issues. growing joints are sensitive.

 

[artificialaspirations]

I think BW movements for younger kids would be ok. Dips, pushups, pullups, prisoner squats etc

 

[kx250rider]

I started being a little serious at 15 or 16, but I have had a back problem ever since I started "showoff" deadlifts when I was about 16 or 17. I didn't know what I was doing, and did all kinds of damage. I'm NOT a doctor, so if it were my son, I'd ask a pediatric sports medicine specialist to recommend a program. However, it's my personal opinion, that it's probably OK to start a VERY GRADUAL lifting program by mid-teens, as long as the testosterone (natural, I mean!!!!!!!) doesn't get in the way of the kid's common sense. No deadlifts, or military presses, or anything that puts the lifted weight on the lower back until full bone development (not sure on the age for that; 18 or 19???).

Charles

 

[joe d]

I started being a little serious at 15 or 16, but I have had a back problem ever since I started "showoff" deadlifts when I was about 16 or 17. I didn't know what I was doing, and did all kinds of damage. I'm NOT a doctor, so if it were my son, I'd ask a pediatric sports medicine specialist to recommend a program. However, it's my personal opinion, that it's probably OK to start a VERY GRADUAL lifting program by mid-teens, as long as the testosterone (natural, I mean!!!!!!!) doesn't get in the way of the kid's common sense. No deadlifts, or military presses, or anything that puts the lifted weight on the lower back until full bone development (not sure on the age for that; 18 or 19???).

Charles

poor form and over training will doom anyone. thats the biggest issue with teens. there are a lot of them that have no guidance and they already know everything.

 

[bblazer]

poor form and over training will doom anyone. thats the biggest issue with teens. there are a lot of them that have no guidance and they already know everything.

And they also suffer from "throw one more plate on there syndrome".

B-

 

[rahl]

any age for basic aerobic type training, 10+ for an actual training program with bw and some light weight training, 12-14 high rep range strict form, 15+ its time to really start. but those numbers are to be on the safe side. puberty is the real time telling factor. after that inintial faze of puberty they are ready. this is what i follow with my kids and their doctor is in agreement.

I would have to agree with that. I started when I was 14 and I sure didn't know as much as I thought of course but all in all I did fine.

 

[ExtraMile]

the main issue i see isnt the growth stunting since food will fix that its the lack of ability to recover and the joint issues. growing joints are sensitive.

can younger muscles also be injury prone? Iv realised that actually for the amount of time Iv been lifting, Iv had quite a few bad injuries and wondered if it was to do with my age

I dont suffer from "add another plate syndrome" at all
I dont overtrain
My diet is relatively good
My sleep is ok

 

[joe d]

can younger muscles also be injury prone? Iv realised that actually for the amount of time Iv been lifting, Iv had quite a few bad injuries and wondered if it was to do with my age

I dont suffer from "add another plate syndrome" at all
I dont overtrain
My diet is relatively good
My sleep is ok

i dont know the answer to that. if all of your statements are acurate then i doubt it unless you where training hard to early and caused some sort of issues. regardless i think you should not be suffering serous injuries so early and you should look into doing something about that.