if you want to kill the potential distance runner have him do distance as a kid. Learn to run fast at a young age, build endurance (work capacity) by playing soccer, basketball, swim biking and skating etc...
if you want to kill the potential distance runner have him do distance as a kid. Learn to run fast at a young age, build endurance (work capacity) by playing soccer, basketball, swim biking and skating etc...
parents shouldn't coach their kids
I haven't had him run a 100 since the 1st year he ran which was two years ago, so I don't remember any 100 times. I had him run two 200's this year and he ran a 32.43 with no sprint practice at all. The top kids in the area are running 28's & 29's, & they practice for the 100 & 200 regularly. I just wanted to see how he stacked up against the kids in the area, so while I had him running at a developmental meet I put him in the 200. We run unattached because I don't like the teams in the area & I want to have more control over what he's doing. Like I said he was going to a trainer, but I don't think I'm going to use him next season, because he literally burned my son out. When he ran the 200 he finished 13th out of 60 kids, most of which practice the 200 weekly. I definitely think he can become a sprinter because he doesn't focus on sprints & can hold his own against the sprinters. My issue is, I was told that it's better for a kid to run middle distance then move down later to sprints in middle or high school. I've heard conflicting views on this, so I thought coming here might give me some clarity.
black diablo wrote:
I haven't had him run a 100 since the 1st year he ran which was two years ago, so I don't remember any 100 times. I had him run two 200's this year and he ran a 32.43 with no sprint practice at all. The top kids in the area are running 28's & 29's, & they practice for the 100 & 200 regularly. I just wanted to see how he stacked up against the kids in the area, so while I had him running at a developmental meet I put him in the 200. We run unattached because I don't like the teams in the area & I want to have more control over what he's doing. Like I said he was going to a trainer, but I don't think I'm going to use him next season, because he literally burned my son out. When he ran the 200 he finished 13th out of 60 kids, most of which practice the 200 weekly. I definitely think he can become a sprinter because he doesn't focus on sprints & can hold his own against the sprinters. My issue is, I was told that it's better for a kid to run middle distance then move down later to sprints in middle or high school. I've heard conflicting views on this, so I thought coming here might give me some clarity.
As a 9 year old, your child is several years away from puberty, when hormonal changes enable real adaptations from strength and speed training. At this point, increases in his speed come more from improved muscle coordination and technique than from dramatically increased muscle contraction strength/power. From what I've read, regular aerobic activity can improve a pre-pubescent kid's VO2max by about 10%. It is too early for your son "to become" anything, but he's at a perfect age to start having fun in athletic settings. See, for instance, "Total Training for Young Champions" by Tudor Bompa.
You were exactly right to pull your son from the trainer when you perceived that your son was burning out. In coming up with your own program, you want to avoid doing the same thing. At 9, most kids don't think of sports the way we adults do -- to them, sports are different kinds of games that are more or less fun. If you want to encourage your son to experience track and field, great. But his "training" should be in the form of games (e.g., relay races, various games of tag, fun & creative circuit training, etc.) that he enjoys with other kids on a track or in other settings. Moreover, he should feel good about taking part, and no one -- especially not you -- should worry about how he finishes or what his times are, as long as he truly enjoys participating. Ideally, you find or you create a program that includes other kids, because that social and creative interaction is what keeps the "training" from getting boring and stale.
I like how you say your son keeps active in other sports as well. Keep encouraging him, Dad! Very wonderful how you are involved in his life!
Just curious what area you are from black diablo since you say you don't like any of the teams in your area. There are good ones and not so good ones around us as well.
I'm in North Carolina
black diablo wrote:
I'm in North Carolina
Gotcha. Don't know much about any of the teams in that area, so can't help you with any recommendations there. USATF JO's are there this year though...we won't be making that trip this time around.
Yeah I was looking forward to it, but I decided to pass because of how my son was performing. He started training around Nov of 2012 and ran two indoor meets, PR'ed in the 400 in both. Then trained until the summer season started off. He was PRing @ each meet in the 400 & 800, but about two weeks ago he just began to lose it physically. He ran an 800 Friday and I could tell that he had nothing left. He definitely was overtrained, so I'm not letting him do anything until football season starts which is a month & a half away.
Probably a smart move. We normally make it to at least one of the JO national meets (and made both AAU and USATF in 2011), but this year my sons are ending track season about one month earlier than usual with USATF youth nationals this upcoming week in Edwardsville, IL. We're even skipping our USATF regional meet in a couple weeks, as the kids really want to do a fun longer trail race instead that weekend.