The value placed on the importance of winning in professional sports has hit an all-time high. The astronomical amount of money being spent in the entertainment field of athletics has dictated a win-at-all-costs mentality that has trickled all the way down to negatively affect our youngest athletes - the prepubescent. The athletic world has forever been exploiting our youth as a source of athletic potential, sacrificing the health, safety and welfare of these child-athletes to satiate the intense nationalistic pride of the country and more dishearteningly in the name of the Almighty Dollar. This has caused coaches and athletes to take drastic measures which are sometimes illegal and usually unethical in order to improve performance levels. One of the most controversial training practices center around the impact of strength training in prepubescent children.

There has recently been increasing scrutiny debating the merits of strength training in our youth and more importantly the unsafe and unethical training practices that tend to be utilized in implementing strength training programs in all levels of amateur athletics. These controversies have enabled many people ass

Faigenbaum, Avery D. Psychological Benefits of Prepubescent Strength Training. Strength and Conditioning. 28-31. April, 1995.

RISKS OF PREPUBESCENT STRENGTH TRAINING

Six research studies involving prepubescent strength training were analyzed. Three out of the six studies included both females and males. All of the studies lasted a minimum of two months - ample time to develop a noticeable increase in overall strength. From these six studies, six different categories were compared with the emphasis obviously placed on whether or not there strength increases in the participating individuals. All six studies were able to statistically demonstrate noticeable strength increases. This evidence supports the underlying hypothesis of prepubescent strength training advocates that strength increases are and can be possible in a safe and knowledgeable environment.

The controversy still exists as to whether or not the risks of prepubescent strength training outweigh the benefits. Overall, strength training programs seem to provide children with opportunities to challenge themselves and others and feel good about themselves. But as with many other things in our society, we tend to prematurely condemn anything product or scientific breakthrough that has shown the slightest chance of causing injury. Frequently this prevents us from discovering and reaping the possible positive effects the same invention or breakthrough might have to offer. The area of prepubescent strength training is a relatively up and coming field in its infancy. However it is becoming a critical field in order to study the effects of exercise in the development of prepubescent children. From continued research scientists will be able to determine the numerous physical, mental and social benefits that can be gained from strength training IF it is done under close and knowledgeable supervision.

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Approximate Word count = 6703
Approximate Pages = 27 (250 words per page double spaced)