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skeeterbite
50 Posts |
 Posted - 01/01/2011 : 19:31:00
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| My son just turned 13 and is in the 8th grade. I was wandering if he should be lifting heavy weights and taking any supplements to keep up with the big boys or is it to early (or late) to worry about it? Any suggestions or comments?? |
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knucklecurve
171 Posts |
Posted - 01/01/2011 : 21:16:44
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| Just let them go through puberty naturally. Why is everyone in such a hurry for their boys to be big? Just have them eat healthy and exercise daily. Weight lifting should not be done until through puberty. Their bones and muscles are still trying to develop and you don't want to injure them. Push ups and resistant bands are the best things to do for weight training until they are through puberty. |
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G-Man
326 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2011 : 10:12:36
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I have to disagree with you on this. Most experts suggest that weight lifting, not power lifting is good for boys. Prior to puberty weight lifting helps to train those muscle groups for when puberty starts and actually has effect of the muscles. Not to mention but if lifting is taught at an early age by a trained professional it helps build proper technique. Technique is really the hazard to young men lifting at any age.
There is some benefit to weight lifting prior to puberty but the gains are small. However once puberty has started you can see significate gains in a short period. The starting of Puberty is the sign of testostrone being produce in a young mans body. We all already know what testostrone does for a male athlete.
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Originally posted by knucklecurve
Just let them go through puberty naturally. Why is everyone in such a hurry for their boys to be big? Just have them eat healthy and exercise daily. Weight lifting should not be done until through puberty. Their bones and muscles are still trying to develop and you don't want to injure them. Push ups and resistant bands are the best things to do for weight training until they are through puberty.
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Alter-Ego
802 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2011 : 15:17:05
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Part of this decision has to do with what positions they play. If the kid is a pitcher, you have to be careful of the weight lifting exercises they are doing. Particularly the ones dealing with shoulder muscles.
Too many times people want to do weight lifting exercises that are suited for football but not really for baseball. The bulkier the muscles, the less flexible. You might get stronger but your thowing motion turns into something resembling one by a T-rex (little short stubby arms).
I have never understood why people want to start with weights before doing bodyweight exercises like pushups, crunches, pull-ups, etc. Get a pullup bar that goes in the doorway and have them do front and reverse pullups, L-ups (for Abs), pushups. Get some ankle weights and do high jumps. Make marks on the wall in the garage and have them work on jumping up and touching the highest line they can. As they get stronger they will be able to touch a higher and higher line.
The concern is with the stress on the bones and tendons, that are still growing, using heavy weights. Since kids are all different, no one really knows how much is really too much. |
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knucklecurve
171 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2011 : 15:23:36
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| We all have our opinions..... skeeterball- just make sure he is working with someone who knows what they are talking about. I just had my sons 13 year old check up and his doctor said it was way to early for weight training. I think you should really consult your doctor and not peoples opinions on NWBA. I for one will not have my son lifting weights until I see that he is well on his way through puberty. The push ups, sit ups, running and resistant bands work just fine for him. He started this program at the end of the summer and has improved his pitching speed by at least 6 mph. You really don't want to hurt him before the baseball season even starts. BTW...what kind of supplements are you talking about?? Unless you are talking about vitamins I would steer clear of any of that. |
Edited by - knucklecurve on 01/02/2011 16:19:32 |
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skeeterbite
50 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2011 : 17:38:57
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| I havent started any yet, just getting opinions on light wieghts and protein drinks to give him to help substitute for the junk fast food world we live in today. Not everyone has time to sit at the table and eat the 4 course meals like in the old days. I just look around in today's baseball world and if your not just gifted with size or strenghth you will fall behind at the major levels. Just curious, I'm sure not going to do anything to hurt him just looking for good opinions on where to start. Thanks again for all your help |
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bestplayinbaseball
67 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2011 : 23:19:10
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| I have some different feedback for you. I have 35 years in the sports field, in nutrition, and injury prevention. It is NOT too soon to start building lean muscle mass. It takes years to grow muscle, naturally. Find a swimming program and get your kid there. In the off season get there more. Find a Pilates instructor and work on core strength and development. Save weight lifting til after 16, but start training now. If your not an expert, find someone who is. don't waste time and money guessing. It's a science all it's own. |
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stixxbaseball10
14 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2011 : 19:19:04
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| Several of our players do Cross-Fit training. It's primary focus is on conditioning and core strenght. The 2 things all athletes need without the risk of losing flexibility. It is awesome. There should be someone that teaches it near you. |
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SpeedKills
106 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2011 : 16:33:50
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quote:
Originally posted by knucklecurve
Just let them go through puberty naturally. Why is everyone in such a hurry for their boys to be big?
Its more to get tall than anything. Smaller 13 yr old boys get passed up just becasue of their size alone... If they are not the BIGone they are usually watching the bigger kids play..Talent may be the same but most think bigger is better... |
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G-Man
326 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2011 : 18:46:28
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You are correct most inexperienced coaches do believe bigger is better. However most of the time the bigger players usually have speed issues. This can clog up a coaches bases and cause other game type issues.
We put together a team for a tournament this past weekend. Not a single kid on the team was above average size and was built for speed. In 3 games we scored 40 runs and only gave up 7. Playing on the smaller fields having those big boys help, but when you hit the big field its about speed and if you can get size and speed then you are WAY ahead of the game.
quote:
Originally posted by SpeedKills
quote:
Originally posted by knucklecurve
Just let them go through puberty naturally. Why is everyone in such a hurry for their boys to be big?
Its more to get tall than anything. Smaller 13 yr old boys get passed up just becasue of their size alone... If they are not the BIGone they are usually watching the bigger kids play..Talent may be the same but most think bigger is better...
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knucklecurve
171 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2011 : 18:47:00
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| speedkills- I agree with you about the not getting tall can effect them, but as far as muscles, you don't have to have big muscles to be strong. I do feel for the kids that don't have height on their side at this age. Bigger is NOT always better! There are so many big kids out there that really don't have the talent, just a big bat. This will start to catch up with them this season. |
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