This article is a compilation of advice for young athletes. This guidance is based on years of research by experts in sports medicine, and strength and conditioning, as well as Olympic and NCAA professionals. By studying athletes who compete at advanced levels, experts can better identify what it takes to become a successful athlete. Since there…

This article addresses the question of whether early sport specialization provides a "physiological" advantage for future athletic success. It examines the limited literature related to the effects of early specialization on the body's organ systems: the endocrine system, the muscular system, the nervous system, and the cardiovascular system. The…

In November 2005, the International Olympic Committee's Medical Commission issued a statement on "Training the elite child athlete" recommending that "more scientific research be done to better identify the parameters of training the elite child athlete". This paper focuses on a specific issue related to training the child athlete: early…

Adolescent athletes may be at risk of restricted growth and delayed maturation when combining intense training with insufficient energy intake. Because catch-up growth commonly occurs with reduced training, final adult stature is generally not compromised. However, in athletes with long-term, clinically delayed maturation, catch-up growth may be…

The off-season football strength training and conditioning program at the University of Miami was developed to emphasize commitment and continued intensity of effort on the part of the individual player. The program emphasizes the intrinsic rewards of physical conditioning, positive reinforcement for effort, and individual responsibility for…

This anthology of papers is designed to serve both as a textbook and as a synthesis of research efforts in youth sport. Half of the 20 papers are reprinted from the first edition of this volume; of the remainder, some were written especially for this edition, while others are culled from journals and conference proceedings. Five subject sections…