Young Athletes
Preparing for Scholastic Athletics
by DON SALADINO
Certified trainer and owner of Drive495 in New York ; Fitness expert in Men ' s Fitness and on major television shows ; Trainer to pro athletes , celebrities and everyday people
As a parent of two children , 10-year old Amelia and 9-year old Donny , I want to make sure I set them up for as much happiness and success as possible . As a former collegiate athlete , I would be lying if I said that I don ’ t want to see my kids successful in sports . More importantly , I have come to understand that movement controls brain development . This translates to — the more our kids sit , the higher the potential for our children to have more physical issues as adults . On top of that , they are more susceptible to obesity . Scary stuff !
According to the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ), since 1985 , obesity has risen more than 25 % in the U . S . We are attributing this not only to the poor-quality food that kids have access to , but also to technology . Our kids are playing less outside and sitting in front of their Playstation and Xboxes more than ever . It also doesn ’ t help that specific schools are trying to cut back on physical education classes . In the most important stage of motor development , we have kids sitting at desks longer and longer while removing physical activity . This is something I obviously don ’ t agree with .
As parents , what do we do ? How do we make a positive impact on our kids so they move better and eat healthier ? Below I have listed an approach that I have taken solely influenced by Dr . Greg Rose from the Titleist Performance Institute almost two decades ago .
In the simplest terms , get your kids doing as many different movements , activities or sports as possible . Get them throwing , running , kicking and jumping . If you are a parent and have a dream of your kid playing a professional sport , then let it go ! Allow them to chase their interest . Make exercise fun and enjoyable . I have found that when you try to push your kid at any
age , they will likely run in the opposite direction . My approach is simple . When I go out to do an activity , I don ’ t invite them . They see me being active ( typically outside ) and then come running out to join . This might also get a lot of you moving more frequently as well . Your children are a product of you . If they see you sit all day , then that ’ s what they ’ ll do . Make it a point to move around in your back yard or park for 10-to-15 minutes a day — then that ’ s what they will do as well .
Establishing these motor units early on will automatically set your kids up for success in health , life and potential athletics if that is something they are into .
Now , let ’ s tie nutrition into all of this . Start by making sure that you carry high quality foods at home . Substitute all the junk for tasty , delicious foods from the best stuff on earth . Eliminating junk in the household will probably clean up 70-to-80 % of their lifestyle . In my household , we use Garden of Life ’ s Sport Protein line and make delicious tasting protein shakes by mixing in greens , fruits and natural almond butters . They actually think they are having the equivalent of an ice cream shake by mixing in things that they would otherwise avoid having . In my opinion , the rest is easy . Allow them to be kids and have some fun .
After being in the health and fitness industry for 20 years , I have learned that very few of us need an “ optimal approach .” Introduce some good rules to live by and you will find that your kid ’ s health will become optimal ; even while taking an approach of moderation .
Make this process fun for your kids . As a parent , you can help steer them in a direction that will mold them for life .
6 Vol 34 • Extraordinary Health ™