Training young athletes: Part 5:Kelvin Giles

Strength and conditioning for children appears to be a popular topic. Unfortunately, short cuts are often desired (4 hour International Athlete anyone?). One of the common, if unpopular, themes from the guest Coaches this week has been fundamentals, process and detail. Today’s author is a great exponent of that.

Kelvin Giles has a vast experience working with International athletes.  His “This isn’t a text book” is on my recommended reading list.

These are probably best for coaches:

• ‘Give them the physical competence to do the technical stuff and the technical competence to do the tactical stuff – in that order.’ 
• ‘In the early stages let them solve movement puzzles in their own way. Don’t overcoach – let them work things out.’ 
• ‘Progress exercises in a variety of ways – Static to Dynamic; Slow to Fast; Simple to Complex; Unloaded to Loaded.’ 

For the Athletes:
‘This is a test of your patience – you might not get it right to start with.’ 

• ‘Have you had your water bottle with you all day?’ 
• ‘The best way to recover is to get a good night’s sleep.’ 
• ‘It’s not whether you try hard today but whether you try hard all the time – tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, next decade.’ 
• ‘Don’t worry about what the person next to you is doing – focus on what you have to do.’ 
• ‘Be smart in training and more importantly be smart outside training. You are an athlete all the time.’ 

Kelvin Giles

Thanks to all of our guest authors who have given such great tips on training young athletes. It is very useful to hear from such a wealth of experience.

If you wish to have an easy to follow guide to training young athletes, then click on the book cover to the right. I wrote this standing on the shoulders of giants.