Working with youth athletes; monitoring maturation, biobanding and training through rapid growth

This week’s Pacey Performance Podcase sees Rob joined by Sean Cumming; Professor of Paediatric Exercise at the University of Bath. He’s also been conducting a lot of work with the Lawn Tennis Association, Premier League, and the Football Association regarding the growth and development of young athletes. The subject of growth and maturity of upcoming athletes is exactly what he speaks about on this podcast – both in terms of physical and mental development. For example, Sean discusses how a young athlete’s development can be shaped by the selection biases surrounding a particular sport, and how late and early development can be both beneficial and a drawback. Sean also talks about how coaches can prevent the development age of a young athlete defining their progress, or lack of it. He discusses how training – both individually and as a group – can be adapted so everyone can meet their potential. This includes how to monitor maturation both with and without a budget – a must for many coaches at local and community sports clubs. There’s also discussion on how to motivate older athletes to play ‘below’ their age group in order to develop their mental and emotional maturity, with a fantastic example from Everton Football Club. For all this and much more, hit the play button now to hear more insight from this superb sports scientist. This week’s topics: • Selection biases in tennis, and how they apply in other sports • Why selection biases are the reverse in gymnastics • Why coaches should consider biological maturation versus chronological age • Sean’s recommendations for creating a safe framework for early and late developers • Adapting training to stop young athletes becoming injured during growth spurts • The length of time it takes for early developers to catch up both physically and mentally • How to monitor maturation in young athletes on a lower budget • How to monitor maturation in young athletes on a higher budget • Why background and ethnicity can influence how quickly athletes mature • Use of bio-banding in football, and the cut-off points between each band • Why encouraging young footballers to play below their age group can be beneficial