Many coaches are involved with training young athletes. What they should be aware of, however, is that training theory and coaching methods are mostly based on the physiology of adults, which has been extensively studied. This can create a problem because, in fact, the exercise physiology of children is different from that of adults. Children are not mini-adults. Rather, they have a developing physiology, from early childhood to late adolescence. This means they have different capabilities for, and adaptations to, exercise. For this reason, young athlete training programmes should not be just scaled-down versions of adult training. The purpose of this article is to help coaches become aware of the kinds of training that are right for young athletes and the kinds of training that aren`t.
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