Has your child shown a keen interest in weightlifting? The average 14-16 year old can’t complete 20 unbroken pushups, hold a static squat or perform any of the typical bodyweight movements properly.

It can be difficult working with untrained kids. Whether you’re a parent or coach working with kids interested in weightlifting, caution should be foremost. Training kids requires the achievement of a delicate balance. Although you may want to help your kids achieve success in what they’re passionate about, you don’t want them to burn out and end up hating it forever.

Here’s what you can do to develop strength in your kids:

  1. Introduce them to the gym – If they’ve never been to the gym before, have them visit the gym and watch you as you train. Let them do a couple of things to see what interests them. Don’t let them do any complex movements. Can they complete 20 pushups unbroken? If not, they’ll need to build up their strength. You should stick to bodyweight movements only at this point and introduce external resistance much later. You can also add sled dragging to shake things up. Stick to basic conditioning and keep training down to once a week at this point.
  2. Show them the technical stuff – Bodyweight movements can become boring after some time. To keep your kids’ interest and develop a connection with them, teach them the technical stuff by showing them how different people in the gym are doing things right e.g. how Steve keeps his back arched while lifting.
  3. Move on to simple movements – You can now move on to simple movements including the benches, cleans and squats. It is important to ensure that they never max out on any movement. Maxing out at this point will only hurt the athletes in the long-run.

Ensure that your kids understand the importance of not maxing out at this point. Let them know how important it is for their long-term success to stick to the plan.