WITH the Public School System Athletics Program back in action, it is important for teenagers to understand what it means to be physically prepared for such a competition, said Jerry Diaz, a certified National Academy of Sports Medicine personal trainer.
High school students Kimy Kim and Hana Diaz are ready to undergo functional fitness and boxing conditioning training at BBJ Athletics.
As a former teen athlete, he said he “learned from many injuries such as ankle sprain, shoulder dislocation and calf strain the proper amount of training a teenager should be exposed to.”
Most young athletes, he added, tend to go full-throttle until they are out of breath.
As a certified personal trainer, Diaz said he assesses the training needs and capabilities of each of his clients, young or old.
For junior and high school athletes, Diaz said PE coaches should consider the duration of the training as they prepare the students for competitions. The intensity of the training must match the students’ level of performance to allow room for growth while avoiding injuries, he added.
He said specific and focused drills for each sport must support a student’s current skillset. Repetitive practice will allow teenagers to build an efficient and consistent response to situations using appropriate movements, he added.
“It is important to understand the age-appropriate phases that will help develop a young athlete’s coordination, balance, speed, strength, flexibility and conditioning,” Diaz said.
He said coaches must include fun drills to keep the training sessions exciting and to further motivate young athletes.
Coaches should allow young athletes to “expand their mindset and visualize game-like situations while avoiding robotic responses and improving natural response time,” Diaz added.
Moreover, he said coaches must schedule an appropriate fitness training regimen and sports-related drills to maintain each young athlete’s fitness level and allow for a smooth transition from summer or holiday break back to competition preparation.
For professional fitness inquiries, contact Jerry Diaz through Instagram at @BBJ_Athletics or Facebook.
