Let me ask you a question. The Columbus Crew play roughly around 37 regular season games from March to October. Ohio State’s soccer team plays about 17 regular season games and then enters the Big Ten tournament.

How many games does your young athlete play?

If you have an athlete playing “serious” soccer (which means club), how many games are they playing between fall and spring? How many months out of the year is that?

Now compare that to the schedule of the collegiate athletes above or even the professional athletes.  

Is it more, the same, or less? If it is more or even around the same amount shouldn’t you ask yourself this question – is that good for my athlete who hasn’t even completely developed physically?

Should young athletes, some who haven’t hit puberty and some still growing, be doing the same amount of workload, if not more, than fully mature adults?

I have a daughter who plays soccer and basketball. Two sports where females blow their knees out all the time, more so than males. I am picking up the strength and conditioning for my daughter to help reduce the chances of that happening.

If your daughter plays high level AAU basketball or club soccer and is NOT doing strength and conditioning to better her overall athleticism, how do you watch their games? Aren’t you worried that the next misstep could be the one that sends her to 9 months of rehab?

It can happen to anyone. ANYONE!!

Abby Steiner is the 100M and 200M state champion in the state of Ohio. She is also a high level soccer player which she plays most of the year.  Her season is done due to a knee injury. If the best athlete in the state of Ohio is susceptible, then ask yourself what you need to do to reduce the chances of that happening.

I have athletes that have blown their ACL, have Severs Disease, have tendonitis, Tommy John surgery, and a slew of other injuries that are usually reserved for older athletes.

I think spending year round training on one particular sport for these young athletes is not good for physical development. But, I don’t think we will be reversing this trend anytime soon. So, if you are going to participate in your sport year round I think there is one obvious answer to this issue:

You ABSOLUTELY need to make the time to be put on a proper strength and conditioning program.  

That shouldn’t be a debate. Make the time. If you are playing on a high level team and you have not had a consistent strength and/or speed program for a minimum of 4 weeks at any point during the year, you are rolling the dice with your athletic career.

It is only a matter of time before your body starts to break down. I’ve been seeing it my whole professional career. If you have nagging injuries, they will manifest into something major.

Go ahead. Press your luck, but these young, growing bodies were not meant to handle the practice schedule, game load, and the months spent on just one sport.

I’m sure there will be people that will say, “Adam, my kid went through his/her career just fine with no injuries.” My response will be that you will soon be in the minority.

Don’t roll the dice on your kid’s athletic career. Do what you need to do to build the best athlete possible that has the best chance to have fun playing his/her sport, but also the best chance to stay injury free.

Photo courtesy of Mike Morris on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/23471940@N02/