In Canada, over 60% of children aged 3-17 participate in some sort of organized sport (link). Parents want their kids to perform well and enjoy the experience of playing sports, but the risk of injury always plays in the back of their minds. Every year, 1 in 5 or around 1.2 million children will experience a sports related injury which can range from ankle rolls and muscle pulls, to more serious fractures or concussions. No parent wants to see their child sidelined with injury, especially if there are preventative measures you can do to decrease the risk.

Resistance Training, which is commonly used by high-level athletes to improve their sports performance, has grown in popularity amongst young athletes. Despite its wide-spread use, many parents and coaches are hesitant about its implementation with younger athletes. Many common fears are that it can stunt growth, damage developing structures or cause injury. This article has been written with the goal of making sense of the research done on this topic, and to answer several important questions; 

Is resistance training safe for my child?

If it is safe, what benefits can my child expect?

If there are benefits, what does an age-appropriate training program look like?