The 5 Biggest Myths About Youth Training (And What Parents Need to Know)

By Coach Rose- Power & Pride Speed & Strength Camp

As coaches and educators, one of the hardest parts of our job isn’t training the kids — it’s re-educating the adults.

There’s a lot of outdated or just flat-out wrong information floating around when it comes to training middle school athletes. And while it usually comes from a place of love or caution, believing these myths can actually do more harm than good.

Let’s clear a few things up 👇

1. “Lifting Weights Stunts Growth”

This is probably the most common myth out there. But it’s also the most debunked.

The truth is, age-appropriate strength training — done with good form, supervision, and smart progressions — is completely safe. In fact, studies show it can actually help protect growing joints and bones by improving neuromuscular control and reducing injury risk.

What stunts development isn’t lifting — it’s inactivity, burnout, and poor movement habits.

2. “Kids Should Just Play Their Sport Year-Round”

This one sounds reasonable at first, but it’s the fastest way to create burnout, overuse injuries, and imbalanced development.

Sport-specific skills should be layered on top of a broad base of physical preparation. If a kid plays only one sport and never develops the strength, mobility, or coordination to support it, their ceiling stays low, and their injury risk stays high.

Our camp focuses on movement literacy first — speed, strength, body control, and fun.

3. “They’re Too Young to Train”

Middle school (ages 10–14) is one of the best times to start.

This is when coordination, balance, and motor skills are developing rapidly. If we wait too long, we miss a golden opportunity. The key is not how “old” they are — it’s how we teach them. Our camp is built for this age group and respects the science of developmental age.

4. “They’ll Get Hurt in the Weight Room”

Yes — if they’re in the wrong environment.

At Power & Pride, we prioritize safety, progression, and coaching. We don’t throw weight on their back and yell. We teach them to move well first. The truth? More injuries happen on the field than in the gym when training is done right.

Proper training doesn’t cause injuries — it helps prevent them.

5. “They Need to Specialize Early to Get Ahead”

This one is pushed by a lot of travel teams, but it’s just not true.

The most successful athletes — at every level — played multiple sports growing up.

They developed a wide range of skills, better movement IQ, and avoided overuse. Specialization can come later, once the foundation is built.

Right now? The priority should be general physical preparation (GPP), not chasing exposure.

Final Thought

As a parent, you want to give your child every advantage. That starts by understanding what the science says — not what social media or unqualified trainers are pushing.

If your middle schooler is ready to build a real foundation the right way, we’d love to have them at Power & Pride Speed & Strength Camp this summer.

📍 Middletown | July 7–25 | 9am–12pm

🌐 www.powerandpridecamp.com

Let’s build athletes, not just players.