Abstract

Role of strength training for youth has received considerable attention in recent years. In this age of overzealous parents and coaches, an increasnig concern has been for what constitutes an appropriate training program for youth. Although it is clear that many elite athletes begin their training at a young age, one must always be concerned for the welfare of the child. Although not all champions begin training for their respective sports at a very young age, it is becoming increasingly common to start serious training during adolescence (the age from the onset of puberty to adulthood), and in the case of sports such as gymnastics, at an even younger age. In weightlifting, for instance, it is likely that an earlier start to training is partly responsible for the dominance that Eastern European and Asian countries display. So, how old must a child be before such difficult training demands are placed on them? Should they specialize in one activity, or should they include many different sports and activities to provide a broad training experience? Furthermore, what type of training program is best during adolescence? Although not all of these questions are easily answered, the main purpose of this article is to take a brief look at what physiology can tell us about training tolerance during adolescence. Einleitung