One-Two Magazine September 2014 | Page 9

What can we do about it?

Monitor a child’s height regularly

Speak to parents do their children display any of the above symptoms

Good nutrition

Monitor training load. Don’t do too much of the same thing

LOTS OF STRETCHING

Adequate sleep

Let nature take its course

Unfortunately there is no magic wand or cure the only thing you can do as a coach or parent is be aware that growth is inevitable and will effect each child at different rates and times. Be aware when it may be happening and encourage the above initatives during these periods.

Strengths and weaknesses, every player has them and any coach worth his salt would be able to list his players own and a list of drills or iniatives to hopefully improve or develop these areas. However one element of youth development that many coaches are either unaware of or not educated enough in is growth and its impact it will have on a child’s development.

Growth is the only element of development that is continuously changing and impacting upon any child’s adolescence, effecting them not just physically but also psychologically. I coaching program that doesn’t legislate for this his highly likely to be either dangerous to the participant but certainly fail to maximise their potential