Tag: Strength

Have you heard the one about strength training stunting kids’ growth?

Over the years we’ve heard every myth in the book when it comes to resistance training for younger players. So let’s set the record straight.

A well-designed, age appropriate strength program will have far greater benefits for a young netballer than holding off on starting strength training until their late teens or early twenties.

In fact, studies show there is no evidence of growth plate issues for young sportspeople who undertake a properly instructed strength program, and that these programs will almost certainly help improve bone density during those key ‘growing’ years, and help prevent future injuries.

Statistically, netballers are far more likely to injure themselves playing the sport itself than they are undertaking resistance training.

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NetballNow.com’s strength and conditioning expert Rob Nardelli, who has worked in high performance netball programs including the Victorian Fury, has trained dozens of aspiring and elite netballers who are rehabilitating injuries, and the overwhelming majority of them were injured on the court, rather than off it.

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“As long as players are instructed on correct techniques and only load the muscles to a level that’s appropriate to their age and overall strength, there can be huge benefits for their development and performance,” Nardelli says.

“We design our programs to be largely bodyweight based, with simple exercises that can be performed properly and safely by young players. It’s amazing how much their overall movement improves with some consistent basic resistance training.”

So why the reluctance from some to embrace strength training for kids?

Injury concerns aside, some argue that it’s simply not necessary for young athletes to load their muscles and bones beyond what they would by simply playing the sport.

But what we now know is that starting properly structured and controlled resistance training early in life can lead to increased athletic performance in future years, thanks to stronger bones, increased strength, improved balance and greater flexibility.

That’s not to say that athletes who don’t start strength training until later in life can’t excel, but their chances may be lower.

Netballers who undertake some sort of resistance work generally see improvements in speed, jumping, landing, mobility and stability.

They also start to develop habits, discipline and accountability that will help them later in life, which is just as important as the physical benefits.

Above all, it’s important that players enjoy their program, or they won’t stick at it for very long.

Happy training!