Helping An Athlete Mature
Athletics Weekly|February 13, 2020
John Shepherd shares his experiences of coaching youngsters through substantial physiological changes as they develop and grow
John Shepherd
Helping An Athlete Mature

Aa a coach, I know first hand how frustrating it can be to have athletes with Severs, Osgood-Schlatters, sprained ankles, ACL repair, and other soft tissue problems. Then there’s growth spurts and maturation and all that entails in terms of stress on the skeleton and coordinative level of the athlete.

Here, I hope to shed some light on helping to coach your developing charges through this difficult period.

Injury is an ever-present threat for athletes of all ages. However, I have found that you can condition many of the common ones – hamstring, back and Achilles – away. Specific pre-conditioning exercises need to be a regular feature of the young and maturing athlete’s training, while that athlete also needs to be skilled in how to perform their event.

Injury rates and young athletes

Through over 15 years of coaching, I have had to deal with my fair share of injuries. I believe that understanding what happens when an athlete goes through the maturation process is important so that a coach can gain a grasp of why things occur – and be in a better position to handle any issues.

Of course, some injuries are out of the coach’s control – I have a young athlete who ruptured her ACL playing hockey. However, it was in part down to me to return her to full multi-event athletics condition once the surgeon and physio had given the all-clear.

I used my accumulated knowledge and asked questions to put into practice a “return to competition” plan.

Could this be learned on a course? Potentially. However, so much comes down to “feeling”, to accumulated knowledge and knowing how to progress rehab.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 13, 2020 من Athletics Weekly.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 13, 2020 من Athletics Weekly.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من ATHLETICS WEEKLY مشاهدة الكل
Carbon Footprint
Athletics Weekly

Carbon Footprint

You'd have had to have been running on a different planet to miss all the recent debate about carbon-plated shoes. The talk of bans and performance enhancement has been so widespread that even non-runners are asking their running friends about the potentially magical footwear.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 26, 2020
Athletics Weekly

Trail time

WHEN looking for a trail or off-road running shoe, it’s often all about the grip. However, given that no two paths are the same, careful consideration is required. What’s the terrain like where you’ll wear the shoes the most? If you’ll be negotiating soft, wet and muddy conditions then look for deeper lugs. For tackling gravel tracks and forest trails then more evenly spaced lugs will work better. When it comes to cushioning, consider how hard the ground will be; if it’s soft then you’ll be fine in low-profile shoes, but on those firmer tracks reasonable cushioning will be called for.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 26, 2020
Stay neutral
Athletics Weekly

Stay neutral

EVOLVING every year, if not month, neutral cushioned shoes are seeing developments in cushioning materials and dynamics at a pace which is nothing short of astonishing. The latest models feature new polymers in the midsoles to give them a cushioned feel while at the same time keeping their weight to a minimum. Give them a spin and choose the most comfortable for mile after mile of shock absorbing running.

time-read
5 mins  |
March 26, 2020
Support network
Athletics Weekly

Support network

WHEN it comes to ‘over-pronation’, a common question is ‘how much is over?’. With no hard and fast rules, it’s best to choose a shoe that instinctively feels right. Gait analysis can often assist in helping you make this choice and your specialist running store is always a good place to start if in doubt. To help you make that choice, here’s a selection of some of the best ‘support’ shoes around.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 26, 2020
Need for speed
Athletics Weekly

Need for speed

THE racing shoe segment of the market is becoming somewhat split. This is partially due to the rise of carbon-plated footwear but also the fact that many shoes are becoming much lighter. Here we take a look at some of the leading contenders to toe the line in.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 26, 2020
Athletics Weekly

Gadget show

WITH technological products to enhance every area of life, running is now no different. From headphones to treadmills, the devices to aid performance and recovery are endless. Here we take a look at some of the latest gadgets and gizmos to enhance your training.

time-read
6 mins  |
March 26, 2020
What's in a shoe?
Athletics Weekly

What's in a shoe?

We bust some of the jargon around footwear

time-read
1 min  |
March 26, 2020
How To Prime Your Immunity
Athletics Weekly

How To Prime Your Immunity

Taking steps to shore your body’s defences has never been more important. Here’s how to do it, says Peta Bee

time-read
6 mins  |
March 26, 2020
English Schools Survival At Stake
Athletics Weekly

English Schools Survival At Stake

Covid-19 could lead to ESAA losing thousands this summer

time-read
2 mins  |
March 19, 2020
Covid-19: Athletics Events Are Wiped Out
Athletics Weekly

Covid-19: Athletics Events Are Wiped Out

Unprecedented calendar changes due to Covid-19

time-read
3 mins  |
March 19, 2020