Advertise
Directories
Natural Venues Guide Convention Centers Guide YOUTHSports
ment in the home should be in a designat- ed, clutter-free area. "I have a small home gym that has a poster with safety rules, including the need for supervision at all times." Parents need to be strong advocates for
safety, she added, by making kids aware that weights could cause injury if dropped on the feet or chest, and resistance bands and tubes could result in pulled muscles.
Benefits Beyond Body Building According to ACE, "improvements in muscular fitness, bone mineral density, body composition, motor fitness perform- ance and injury resistance should be com- pelling for all parents, though children will likely focus on enhanced sports perform- ance and the social aspects of strength- building exercises." To encourage their kids to participate, parents should stress self-improvement and individual success, always making sure everyone is having fun, Pillarella said.
"Youth strength-training programs can generate significant improvements in self- esteem, mental discipline and socialization of children who participate," she said. "Overweight and obese children often excel in these types of exercises and com- petitions. Weight training provides an opportunity to let children who typically struggle with group activities stand out and perform well on an individual basis." Roselli pointed out that competitive weightlifting includes several body-weight categories, which can be beneficial to ath- letes who aren't physically large enough or fast enough for other sports. "People in the mid-range can find many opportunities in weightlifting," he said.
An indication that strength and weight training is becoming better understood and accepted for youth is its incorporation into physical education programs, Roselli said. "More and more, across the country, we are seeing some forms of resistant exercis- es and weight training provided in middle
and high school curriculums," he said. "Many community sport programs now include weightlifting movements in their fitness programs."
The use of weight training to strengthen athletes for a variety of competitive sports has led many of them to eventually spe- cialize in weightlifting, Roselli added. "The main attribute needed in weightlifting is a burst of strength, but flexibility and acrobatic talent are also helpful to success- ful competitors, so we see some crossover with other types of sports." ■
More Info:
USA Weightlifting www.teamusa.org/USA-Weightlifting
American Council on Exercise www.acefitness.org
Mayo Clinic www.mayoclinic.com
Long Island is a prime destination for games, tournaments and competitions of all kinds. Our complexes, parks, golf courses and stadiums are world class, yet competitively priced. And Long Island is packed with great activities for the whole family. Best of all, just contact us and we will coordinate the whole process for you—from handling your RFP to finding the perfect locations.
To get the ball rolling, call Jennifer at 1-877-386-6654, ext. 320. Or visit www.discoverlongisland.com/sports.
www.sportseventsmagazine.com July 2012 35
▼