- Apr 8, 2011
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Per Mayo Clinic, strength training is okay and can be beneficial for young athletes (the article even mentions as young as 7-8):
Strength training: OK for kids? - Mayo Clinic
With that said, for everyone that wants to keep adding additional workouts and cross training:
The Dangers of Overdoing It
The problem was put into focus three years ago by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. In a report in the academy’s journal, Pediatrics, Dr. Joel S. Brenner wrote, “Overuse injuries, overtraining and burnout among child and adolescent athletes are a growing problem in the United States.”
Kids don't all have the same body types, health, or schedule. What we do know is, cheer should not only be competitive, it should be enjoyable. Kids should not have to pop Ibuprofen like Skittles, use Icy Hot for body lotion, or use braces and KT tape as magical devices to get them back in the game earlier. If we are truly concerned about injuries and concussions, then realize and admit these kids have physical limitations at any given point in their training. Additional teams for cross training should be something your child wants to do. It should not be forced by parents or used by gyms to get them to commit to lower level teams to participate in the higher levels or done "just in case they grow". My only suggestion is let your kids, coaches, and PT's determine what would be beneficial and just enjoy cheering them on.
Yeah, I'm cool with some strength training. I am also cool with/an advocate of cheerleading requiring an off-season so... overuse is overuse.