Courtesy of CoachUp, www.coachup.com
Staying active during summer vacation is one of the most important determining factors in whether your child establishes healthy living habits and develops general athleticism. Summertime presents a prime opportunity for young athletes to catch up to their teammates and even surpass competitors in fitness, strength and skill.
Parents have a number of options for helping their athletes make the most of summer training, and a popular choice is enlisting their child in sports camps. In fact, according to a recent survey by American Express, parents will spend more than $600 per child on summer activities like sports teams, pool memberships and camps.
Camps offer several benefits as they provide consistent activity and sport-specific guidance. For young athletes, camps are not only an introduction to group training, but are also a great way to get socially acclimated in organized sports. Unfortunately, camps often last just a few days, and cannot replace three months of consistent activity.
Parents can help their athlete by making exercise a routine over the summer. Even parents without a sports background can help their athlete. Timing an athlete, counting reps, completing drills and taking them on bike rides, trail runs or to a local swimming pool are ways to get your child active. Come preseason, the transition to regular practice will not be abrupt or a shock. Your athlete will begin his or her season in shape, which will lead to better confidence in play and reduced anxiety.
Coaches will also take note—just ask former NFL player and CoachUp coach Izaan Cross.
“For young players especially, conditioning always serves as a giveaway for the type of work that a player has put in during the offseason,” Cross said. “You can also tell if a player has stayed active or partaken in summer training camp by questioning their knowledge of the game. If they can answer questions that they would not have been able to answer the prior season, or they do not make the same mistakes that they made the prior season, they most likely continued their growth as an athlete during the offseason.”
As for the perfect summer training blend, aim to be active every day with a few days off. Cross said that for a child ages 5-10 years old usually an hour of exercise a few days a week is sufficient.
“That can be at a camp or clinic, private coaching, cross training with friends, training individually or with a parent, general exercising,” Cross clarified. He also added, “film study, speed training, flexibility work, and weight room availability become vital for an athlete especially once you get in the upper teenage years.”
Potential star athletes often show high general athletic ability before learning the nuances of a sport; improving general fitness will make your child a contender for making top teams and starting positions down the road. Regardless of a child’s future career as an athlete, adopting a routine of exercise will help your child establish life-long healthy habits.
Pros of camps:
- They last just a few days or weeks.
- Your child can practice with nearby athletes he/she might see at practice or competition.
- Your child will be exposed to different coaching styles or training, especially for out of state camps
- Your child will meet athletes from other areas, improving their quality of training and potentially creating new friendships.
Cons of camps
- Your child is one of many and may not get individual attention.
- Your child could learn bad habits from other athletes.
- If your child gets sick or injured at the beginning of camp, the value of the camp diminishes.
- Routines and regimes are tailored for the group; your child’s specific needs may be overlooked or not addressed.
- Camps can be expensive.
