This camp is no picnic

Author: Lori Brown, ASEP Youth Sports Sales Consultant

06/18/2008

If your community is anything like mine, summer brings no shortage of “camps” — almost all of which are for specific sports: basketball, volleyball, football, cheerleading, and wrestling just being some examples.

But there’s one camp that I especially appreciate: a fitness camp for kids entering the fifth through eighth grades. What I like about it is that it’s neither sport specific nor gender specific; boys and girls of all sports are invited to attend. But it doesn’t start and end with just those who participate in organized sports. Any kid—or should I say, any kid who wants a good workout—can attend. For two hours a day, three days a week, for six weeks, the kids are exposed to a regimented exercise program designed to improve their conditioning and on-field performance, lessen their chances for injuries, and promote a healthy lifestyle. My daughter, who is a multi-sport athlete, said that she never liked to run until she started attending the camp.

This “fitness camp” concept is evident in Human Kinetics’ new book, Athletic Fitness for Kids . The book includes fun and interactive drills, games, and exercises that cross over with popular sports such as baseball, basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis. Sport-specific drill suggestions are also included. If you’re a coach or know someone who is, Athletic Fitness for Kids will maximize kids’ athletic potential and open doors to a lifetime of fitness and sport participation.

For those of you who are interested in sport-specific training resources, check out our Complete Conditioning for Sport series. . This series offers the programs, insights, and expert advice to take any athlete to the top of their game.

To help you and your coaches in developing a conditioning program for your team, use “Age-based training guidelines,” our free download for this month. We all wonder at what age a child should begin a strength training program, what exercises they should perform and how often, and how much weight is acceptable. Taken from ASEP’s Sport Physiology for Coaches book, the chart will give you some sound guidelines. You’ll just need to complete a short form to access the download. While you’re there, check out the many other forms, checklists, and articles that are housed there—all free for the taking.

After fitness camp, I’m hoping to find a “gardening camp” or “lounge in my backyard with my favorite summer beverage camp” to attend...