It's a Blast to Be Fast in Youth Sports

It’s fun to be fast. In sports, success comes easier to the fastest kids.

Speed starts with the gift of fast-twitch fibers (thank you Mom or Dad).

Equally important are the activity choices parents make for a child in the early stages of development.

Considering the “first window” for speed development arrives at ages 6-8 for girls and 7-9 for boys, sports such as gymnastics, flag football or swimming most effectively develop a child’s early physical literacy, thus establishing the building blocks for speed development.

Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps, visiting Bethlehem, PA from July 20-24 at the Bethlehem Catholic High School, feature a safe, non-contact football curriculum and offer a terrific variety of “basic and specialized movement” skills, directly addressing a child’s agility, balance, coordination and speed development.

“Within our daily speed and agility sessions, we really help young kids develop a proper running form,” says Mike Gross, Coaching Director for Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps. “When kids learn it’s not just the legs, but the arms and body angle all coordinated together for speed and power--that’s when kids really improve and gain confidence.”

In a similar way, swimming establishes a similar basis for motor skill function and speed development.

“Every swimming stroke requires proper form--and when that form improves, so does the speed,” says David Waymer, former Northwestern University swimmer. “Kids start out flailing, so the process takes time. But once kids feel powerful and efficient, they become true competitive swimmers and better all-around athletes.”

As a team sport, flag football practice drills address nearly all of the essential speed building blocks kids need during the first window of speed development.

“Wide receivers need to sink their hips, pump their arms and plant to cut. Defensive backs must back peddle and pivot into a full-speed forward run. Quarterbacks shuffle and escape. These are very productive and athletically challenging drills -- unique to flag or tackle football,” says Gross.

Of course, for kids, none of this works if it is not fun---and the best summer camps consider fun an essential ingredient.

“Every drill features fun competition and teamwork. That is absolutely essential,” says Gross of the Philadelphia Eagles Youth Camp. “We play the game to have fun. Most often the kids do not realize they are ‘practicing’ because they are having so much fun doing it.”

Beyond speed development, all youth sports coaches agree--the primary point is to keep children physically active but if your child has “the need for speed,” there are some advantages in decisions you make, leading to a positive sports impact on your child.

Learn more about Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camp at www.EaglesCamps.com or call 888-226-9919.

Camp near you:

July 20-24, 8:30am-11:30am, Bethlehem, PA, Bethlehem Catholic High School