Youth Athletic Body Weight Training

“Alex:

What weightlifting routine would you recommend for a 13 year old boy?”

First off, GREAT question Dave.

Coaches and athletes worldwide often wonder when they can start lifting weights, how young is too young and what should I be doing when I get started. The simple answer is there is no reason anyone, at ANY age, shouldn’t be taking part in some form of resistance training.

That being said, for someone in the ages 10-14, I really like bodyweight training. Actually, I really like bodyweight training for anyone getting started with resistance training. It’s fun, it’s easy, it requires no equipment and you can do some awesome, awesome workouts with your just your bodyweight.

Body weight training also improves overall coordination for a younger athlete, strengthens not only muscles, but tendons and ligaments as well, and simultaneously builds their anaerobic and aerobic capacities.

What’s even cooler is that it’s great for adults who might have some nagging pains, or the usual, everyday achey joints. Since it’s just your bodyweight, it feels really good on all of those annoying pains and often times, gets rid of ‘em for the aging guy or girl who’s still young at heart and wants to still enjoy fun and challenging workouts.

I even know some moms and dads who will do certain bodyweight workouts WITH their kids, as it’s a wicked way to get their kids starting to work out, get the parents back in shape and together, it’s an exciting, bonding experience.

So, back to your question Dave, I definitely recommend bodyweight training for the 13-year old, or anyone in the 10-14 year old range.

One of my closest “fitness” friends is Men’s Health Expert Author Craig Ballantyne, and he is the bodyweight training MASTER. The first time I actually met Craig was at a conference in Washington D.C.

I was walking into the hotel weight room to get in a good early-morning workout, and who do I see but the famous Craig Ballantyne cranking out one INTENSE bodyweight workout, dripping with sweat and smiling with the excitement of a year-old pup. I still make fun of him today for having a smile across his face as he was busting out a set of 50 bodyweight squats. Crazy dude that Craig Ballantyne…

Anyways, Craig has a great Bodyweight Workout For Young Athletes Program, made for athletes who are just getting into strength training, and want to build that solid base of strength, health and coordination before they subject themselves to the rigors of the weight room.

I know, I know, it’s not free, but it’s a bargain of  deal and you have bodyweight expert access forever with it.

It’s basically ideal if your son or daughter needs to start training, needs to get in better shape, hasn’t lifted weights in a while, needs a change of pace and some actual FUN workouts, or even if you want to do some fun exercise with them.

Craig’s Bodyweight For Athletes 8-Week Training Program

Give it a shot, let me know how it goes, and I’ll be back on Saturday to answer another one of those questions from last week’s post.

Make it happen,

-Alex