Youth Academy S&C, Summer 2024

Welcome to The Huddle’s Youth Academy Strength and Conditioning programme!

Within our youth S&C programme, we aim to safely introduce our athletes to functional training for sport – firstly teaching the foundation movement skills, then advancing to progressive resistance training, by the end of the programme.

The 4 steps of the programme are:

1- Initial assessment of functional strength & introducing the RAMP protocol (warm up).

2- Learning the basics first, beginning with simple bodyweight and plyometric exercises.

3- Progress from simple to complex movement patterns, at the appropriate time.

4- Use the concept of progressive resistance – the key to success.

We will focus on the following areas:

Movement Patterns

Mobility & balance

Functional core strength

Body weight exercises

Weighted exercises (inc. resistance bands, medicine balls, dumbbells, barbells & kettlebells)

Sprint training (inc. plyometrics, acceleration, deceleration & COD – change of direction)

Some of the benefits for youth athlete weight training are:

Injury risk reduction

Improved bone mineral density

Improved coordination

Build a strong base for any sporting activities

“There is now a compelling body of scientific evidence that supports regular participation in youth resistance training to reinforce positive health and fitness adaptations and sports performance enhancement” – Position statement on youth resistance training: the 2014 International Consensus

Our head of youth – Ellie, is a personal trainer and S&C coach with 4 years of experience, working with a wide range of athletes, from youth to masters, as well as individual to team sport athletes. Ellie is currently enrolled onto the S&C Trainer course with the Athlete Academy and is looking to become an accredited UKSCA S&C coach. Ellie currently runs 1-2-1 and group S&C sessions for talented youth athletes, including the academy footballers at Cheltenham Town FC.

The next 5-week block will run over the summer holidays (30/07-29/08), every Tuesday at 17:00-17:55. We are offering 8 spaces per class; however, if there is enough interest, there is scope to run a second session on Thursdays (max. one session per week per athlete), so please get in contact if this would be of interest. The 5-week programme will cost £50 and there are pro-rata payment options available.

Please contact Ellie at ellie@thehuddle.fitness if you are interested in joining or if you have any questions!