| By Julie Eibensteiner PT, DPT, CSCS As kids enter their pre-teen and early teen years, their bodies start changing fast. They grow taller, their limbs lengthen, and coordination can dip for a bit. This is also when young athletes face their highest risk of injury. Research is clear: A good physical preparation program, including age-appropriate strength training, is one of the best ways to keep kids healthy and confident during these years. But here’s the part many people get wrong… What Good Youth Strength Training Actually Looks Like It’s not pro-style workouts in smaller bodies. It’s not perfect technique and rigid drills. (read that again!) And it’s definitely not loading kids with adult expectations. Great youth training is built around: ✔️ EnjoymentKids learn best when they like what they’re doing. Fun and variety keep them engaged which is the #1 predictor of long-term success. ✔️ Exploration & ExperimentingKids need space to try movements, make mistakes, self-correct, and “figure out their body.” This builds real coordination and motor learning – it’s good for the brain! (it sticks!) ✔️ Coordination & Body ControlSkipping, shuffling, hopping, crawling, throwing, catching – these build the foundation for every sport skill later. ✔️ Jumping & Landing SkillsResearch shows that learning how to land, stop, and decelerate early can significantly reduce knee and ankle injuries during growth spurts. ✔️ Age-appropriate Strength TrainingSimple movements like squats, hinges, pushes, pulls, carries, and core work — done with bodyweight or light loads – make muscles and tendons stronger and more resilient. ✔️ Movement VarietyCrawling → jumping → balancing → pushing → pulling → throwing Variety improves coordination, prevents overuse injuries, and keeps things fun. Why This Matters Most Around Growth SpurtsDuring rapid growth, bones lengthen faster than muscles and tendons can adapt. This leads to stiffness, awkwardness, and more strain on joints. Physical preparation helps by improving:Balance and coordinationMuscle-tendon strengthLanding mechanicsConfidence in movementStudies show that programs built this way can reduce youth sports injuries by 40–66%. The Takeaway Good physical preparation for kids doesn’t look like adult workouts. It looks like fun, movement-rich training that builds coordination, confidence, and foundational strength in a safe, age-appropriate way. Interesting enough: many pro teams are now bringing these same ideas back into their warm-ups —> games, exploration, and playful movement because these principles work at every level and keep players engaged. If you know a young athlete who wants to stay healthy and develop real movement skills – this style of training is one of the smartest places to start. And if you’re looking for a program that fits you, we’ve got options for youth, high school, college athletes, and adults. Contact us to get started! |
| Laurus ROOTS: Middle School Training (6th–7th Grade) It’s BACK this January and registration is open!ROOTS is built for athletes who are growing fast and learning how to move with confidence. Training is fun, movement-rich, and age-appropriate – not mini pro athlete workouts. |
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| Athletes work on: Coordination and balance Jumping and landing Age-appropriate strength Speed, agility, and body control 📅 Jan 20 – Feb 26, 2026 🕓 Tuesdays & Thursdays | 4:00–4:45 PM 👥 Limited to 8 athletes (6th–7th grade, interested 8th welcome too) 🏷️ $325 (full 6-week program, 12 sessions) 📩 Limited spots left — SIGN UP HERE |
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