DEVELOPING THE YOUNG FEMALE ATHLETE
It seems to be the norm for a parent to sign her daughter up to play club soccer, engage in specific speed and agility sessions, and weekend long showcases far before considering signing up for strength training.
Unfortunately this practice is leading to an ever increasing rate of sport injuries occurring in young female athletes-injuries that have been cited to be reduced by HALF when athletes are introduced to strength training.
In fact, sport scientists cite strength training as a NECESSARY precursor for females to PREPARE their young body for the forces faced on the field or court.
So why aren’t more parents and coaches pushing for it PRIOR to competitive sport play?
THE TRUTH ABOUT FOAM ROLLING
“MOBILITY” is all the rage in the fitness industry, and foam rolling or “soft tissue” work is often cited as a necessary warm-up tool by fitness gurus.
But what does the research say? Is foam rolling necessary? Or is it just a waste of time? Is there a better way to prepare the female athlete’s body for movement?
Check out this article to learn what the current science suggests!
The Player Development Pyramid
Do you want to become the BEST female athlete you can be?⠀⠀Then its time to understand how to prioritize developing your ATHLETICISM over your specific sport skills.
Think of your abilities as a (enter your sport here) player as the peak of a pyramid the height of your skills are dependent on the qualities they are built on!
If you want to learn how to develop your athleticism, this one is a MUST READ!
The SCIENCE behind DEEP SQUATS
Female athletes who want to be faster, more explosive, and more resilient often wonder if deep squats are dangerous for their knees.
While various research studies have found that deep squats can be highly effective for improving lower body strength, we still find that athletes, parents, and coaches question the significance of even the most fundamental human movements.
The TRUTH about Static Stretching!
Decades ago, static stretching was claimed to be an effective way to help reduce injury risks in athletes. But as times change, so does our understanding of what static stretching does and DOES NOT do for our athletes.
So is stretching the golden ticket to keeping female athletes healthy??
Quick Answer: NO.
In fact, in some scenarios static stretching could cause more harm than good.
Keep reading to find out what the current research tells us about static stretching for our female athletes.