GLOBAL RUGBY SEPTEMBER
sessions. Adolescents as young as 15
are being signed to major sporting clubs
across the world because they show
qualities of an elite level athlete.
It is this simple: To be an elite level
athlete, you need to train like one.
Athletic performance should be
available to all ages and levels
of sport to ensure our young
athletes perform at their very
best, and increase their chances
of a professional sporting career.
pre-season and in season training have
resulted in a minimised risk of injury,
decreased risk of re-injury of previous
injuries, and lowered risk of overuse
injuries [1, 2, 3]. Studies have also shown
that young athletes are capable of safely
improving muscle strength as a result
of resistance training, some having
increases as high as 30% from a 12 week
training program [4, 5]. The rumours
and false beliefs are not the only things
holding back our younger athlete’s from
reaching their potential.
The only form of training in most team
sports is on-field aerobic training.
Unfortunately, not much of their athletic
performance qualities are being trained
in these sessions. To develop strength,
power, speed, mobility/flexibility and
neuromuscular control, they need to
be working more on their anaerobic
energy systems and focusing on learning
new motor patterns [1, 2, 3, 4]. By
encompassing the two types of training
(aerobic and anaerobic) our junior
athletes will place themselves in the best
position to reach their highest athletic
potential.
Only a select group of sporting
government organisations offer this
specific style of training in Australia such
as the AIS and VIS. Countries all over the
world, like America, have already started
applying, building and integrating athletic
performance principles into their junior
athlete development in high school
P.E programs and local team training
Let’s implement athletic performance
programs into our junior athlete training
systems to produce a complete, elite
level athlete! To learn more about how
this type of training can assist you or your
school, email us here.
References:
[1] Lloyd, R., Faigenbaum, A., Stone, M., Oliver,
J., Jeffreys, I., Moody, J., Brewer, C., Pierce, K.,
McCambridge, T., Howard, R. and others, (2013).
Position statement on youth resistance training: the
2014 International Consensus. British journal of sports
medicine, p.–2013.
[2] Behringer, M., vom Heede, A., Yue, Z. and Mester,
J. (2010). Effects of resistance training in children
and adolescents: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 126(5),
pp.1199–1210.
[3] Payne, V., Morrow Jr, J., Johnson, L. and Dalton, S.
(1997). Resistance training in children and youth: a
meta-analysis. Research quarterly for exercise and sport,
68(1), pp.80–88.

[4] Falk, B. Tenenbaum, G. (1996) The effectiveness of
resistance training in children: A meta- analysis. Sports
Med, 22: 176-186.
[5] Tsolakis C, Xekouki P, Kaloupsis S, Karas D, Messinis D,
Vagenas G, Dessypris A (2003). The Influence of Exercise
on Growth Hormone and Testosterone in Prepubertal
and Early-Pubertal Boys.,
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