Is Your Child Ready To Play Sports? Part 4: Physics, Jump Training, and Collisions
In Part 3, we discussed nutrition.
In Part 4, we will provide a quick explanation of the forces involved in jumping and landing and collisions.
Most parents are still afraid of having their kids "lift weights." Why? In the book The Physics of Football, author TImothy Gay, PhD, a professor of Physics and college football player asks and answers the question, "With just how much force did Dick Butkus hit running backs?" (p. 29) 1, 150 pounds of force, or about three-fifths of a ton in the backward (negative) direction." (p. 30)
When kids jump, they can produce ground reaction forces of three to five times bodyweight and rates of force totaling 500 times bodyweight (Ref). Thus, technique training and proper strength training is necessary to prepare the body for jumping activities.
So parents, you let your kids jump and you let your kids collide. But do you prepare them for the physical stress of these activities with proper strength, speed, agility, mobility, and conditioning training?
How hard does Ray Lewis hit?
And what is it that gives a soccer player like Cristiano Ronaldo the edge over other players?
