This section will concentrate on one of the basic differences of younger athletic physiology that we need to understand to drive effective programming.

– Literature suggests pre-pubescent adaptations are predominantly neural based

– Adolescents are both neural and structural.

This suggests that implementing an adult based program geared towards structural development will be counterproductive for our younger trainees. Conversely an approach that creates an environment enriched with neural activation through plyometrics, speed, reflexive and proprioceptively led work as well as patterns that will form the basis for structural development will be highly beneficial, allowing the body to learn how to adapt to the imposed demands placed upon it.

Having highlighted this fundamental difference, part 3 of this mini-series will begin to look at coaching related outcomes that this approach will take