Literature available on resistance training for ages 9-14?
Former Member
Does anyone know of any literature available that discourages resistant training in younger age groups? Two of my sons are swimming for a local club and the coach wants my 10 year old to use a drag suit and paddles. Before I confront the coach on this issue I need some literature that suggests resistant training in pre-puberty individuals is misquided. Does anyone know of any articles suggesting younger age groups should use more technique related drills instead of power driven sets? I need evidence against this practice to show the coach and other parents. My opinion isn't enough. I have a couple of Go Swim articles and articles off of the USA Swimming site, but I feel I need more.
Thanks for any response.
Parents
Former Member
Google shoulder injuries in swimmers....and hundreds of articles can be found. Every one of them advises to lay off of the paddles as part of the rehab process...particularly after the 'surgery' has been performed. Your concern is well founded. No one wants to send their kid to a sports therapist.
I have searched Google for "shoulder injuries preadolescent swimmers" and have a ton of articles about shoulder injuries in swimmers. Most list use of paddles as a factor in shoulder injury. Increased resistance done improperly with bad technique will lead to problems. This should be common sense. My dilemma is that the local club where my son belongs has a coach without any common sense. I have at least twenty articles preaching the evils of "paddle use with bad technique" in swimming. I am continuing my search but none of the articles say specifically "Do not use resistance training with prepuberty swimmers." My son will not use paddles until he has the shoulder strength to withstand the added resistance. My worry is with all of the other youngsters that are pretty good now but that might not be around to swim in the future because someone wants them to train with paddles.
I do not disagree with paddle use in individuals that can handle the added pressure on the shoulders. In college we used homemade paddles out of sheet metal. They were 8"x10" with a single piece of surgical tubing across the center. I loved using them. We use to be able to just cruise with them plus a buoy and a tube around the ankles. The goal was to get under 15 minutes for a 1500 pull. 15:06 was as fast as I got. College yes, age group no.
Google shoulder injuries in swimmers....and hundreds of articles can be found. Every one of them advises to lay off of the paddles as part of the rehab process...particularly after the 'surgery' has been performed. Your concern is well founded. No one wants to send their kid to a sports therapist.
I have searched Google for "shoulder injuries preadolescent swimmers" and have a ton of articles about shoulder injuries in swimmers. Most list use of paddles as a factor in shoulder injury. Increased resistance done improperly with bad technique will lead to problems. This should be common sense. My dilemma is that the local club where my son belongs has a coach without any common sense. I have at least twenty articles preaching the evils of "paddle use with bad technique" in swimming. I am continuing my search but none of the articles say specifically "Do not use resistance training with prepuberty swimmers." My son will not use paddles until he has the shoulder strength to withstand the added resistance. My worry is with all of the other youngsters that are pretty good now but that might not be around to swim in the future because someone wants them to train with paddles.
I do not disagree with paddle use in individuals that can handle the added pressure on the shoulders. In college we used homemade paddles out of sheet metal. They were 8"x10" with a single piece of surgical tubing across the center. I loved using them. We use to be able to just cruise with them plus a buoy and a tube around the ankles. The goal was to get under 15 minutes for a 1500 pull. 15:06 was as fast as I got. College yes, age group no.
