Junior Golf Parents Should Make Fitness a Priority
Most parents are focused on finding a junior golf coach to help their son or daughter develop their golf game. While no one would argue that learning or improving golf specific skills and game play is a necessity, there seems to be an unfortunate lack of knowledge with regards to the importance of basic athletic development.
Golfers get teased, though not as much these days, about not being athletes. The truth is that the golf swing is a very athletic movement requiring strength, flexibility, and balance. Our junior golf program emphasizes fitness and overall athletic development. There is a corresponding phase of development for each age group.
Long term athletic development is a relatively new concept for golf coaching. The phrase was originally coined by sports scientist, Istvan Balyi. Part of the National Coaching Institute in British Columbia, Mr. Balyi is acknowledged as the worldwide expert in LTAD. I came to understand his approach through my training with TPI. His model of LTAD is useful for developing golfers from the junior golf age range to that of seniors.
Parents can best help their young golfers by helping them build a fundamental foundation of fitness. This could change their life forever, regardless of whether or not they end up playing in college or the professional ranks. There’s plenty of time to work on their golf game. Mom and dad, your kids will thank you one day for getting the priority right. Take advantage of the golf off-season to get them started.
