From Play to Power: Kids Grow Through LTAD
2023 (5th grade) Youth athletic development Vs 2026 (8th grade) Strength and conditioning Same group of kids taking part in age/developmentally appropriate training activities. ##LTAD https://t.co/7qdzbBw0Ls
Kids Thrive on Fun, Not Forced Hard Challenges
Do hard things is an Adult thing: Despite what you see online… Telling kids to “do hard things” isn’t how you build resilient athletes. It’s how you make them hate movement. Because most of the time, “hard” just means being forced onto kids. Kids don’t experience...
Prioritize Movement Variety Over Sprint Drills for Kids
Despite what you see online by so-called speed gurus who train kids like adults, young athletes do not need sprint technique training. Early on, speed isn’t about mechanics— it’s about building movement capacity. Kids need variety, diversity, and novelty of movement, not repetition...
Maturity, Not Age, Determines Kids' Readiness for Strength Training
Every strength coach nerd loves to bring up “the research.” They’ll argue about growth plates… Debate the perfect age to start strength training … But they miss the point. Because they don’t actually work with kids… They’re just looking for clicks and likes. Kids aren’t...
Ask Coaches: Have They Guided Kids Through LTAD?
I always ask coaches with all the answers...have you actually taken any kids through all the stages of long term athletic development? ##LTAD https://t.co/MynGp0ROWD
Prioritizing Holistic Athletic Development over Long Seasons
If I had the opportunity to work with a group of 8u to 11u baseball players this is what the training would look like. Instead of an extended season through summer and fall, the entire focus of that time period...
Strength Training Builds Kids' Control, Confidence, and Resilience
The right kind of strength training teaches kids how to: • Move with control and coordination • Produce and absorb force safely • Build body awareness and confidence • Lay the groundwork for speed, power, and injury resilience As long as the young athletes...
Free Play Isn’t Enough; Guided Movement Builds Athleticism
This is for the “just send kids outside to play” crowd… Kids should play. But let’s be honest—today’s world isn't the same as the 1980s. Less recess. Barely any PE. More screens. “Just go play” isn’t a system—it’s hope. And here’s what’s funny… We’ll pay for: batting lessons soccer...
Elite Youth Training Requires Structured, Technical, High‑Intensity Programs
You want to know what "elite" 😉 training looks like for 11-12 year olds... Hint hint: It doesn't look like a college strength and program. A program that is more structured, highly technical and higher in intensity you might be missing...
Teach Kids Movement, Not Just Conditioning, for Real Speed
Most youth athletes don’t need more conditioning… They need to learn how to move. We’ve got 8-year-olds doing ladders and suicides...who can’t balance, skip, or control their body. That’s the problem. Speed Demons program gives45 athletic activities and games you can use: 🏡 Backyard 🏋️ Gym 🏈...
Early Play Builds Coordination; Strength Grows Later
Found some old notes on athletic development. Thought it might be helpful for some coaches. #LTAD Coordination...strength...mobility Birth to age 6: Coordination: developed through movement and play Strength: developed through movement and play Mobility: In abundance since birth, move and maintain. 7 to age 12: Coordination:...
Prioritizing Donut Debate Over School PE Mandates
RFK/MAHA: dunkin donuts is the enemy... Also RFK/MAHA: still no mandatory daily physical education requirement in public schools... https://t.co/DxhEGNvCs0