For the young athlete with hopes and dreams of achieving Olympic or professional success, triathlon has recently been recognized as an NCAA sport for women. Before long, the same will be true for men. Presently, scholarship money and opportunities are somewhat limited, but that will change over time. At the collegiate level, being involved with triathlon promises to be a great way to stay fit, make great friends, help reduce stress and anxiety, and just have fun.  Studies show engagement in sports enhances academic success so join a Tri-team today!

Next Post: Wednesday, June 29, 2016: Powerful Lifestyle Tips - Why Multisport (Triathlon) is Great for Kids 

Swimming, biking and running are activities that most children, even those with disabilities, are able to participate in, making inclusion another valuable attribute of this versatile and wonderful sport. How often do children sign up for a sport with unbridled enthusiasm anticipating the fun to participate, only to be relegated to the bench. Although there are lessons to be learned in just being a part of the team, let's face it, this isn't great fun. In triathlon everyone participates. Everyone has the same opportunity to cross the finish line and feel that great sense of accomplishment. One of the most compelling reasons to consider triathlon as a competitive sport for children is that no one is excluded from the competition.

Next Post: Wednesday, June 22, 2016: Powerful Lifestyle Tips - Why Multisport (Triathlon) is Great for Kids Tip #8 – Scholarship and Olympic Opportunities Exist

Very few elementary school athletes becomes a high school star. And if you're wondering about the chances of going on to play at the collegiate level, well they're certainly not great.  Only 3% of high school senior basketball players will play NCAA sponsored basketball. Only less than 1% of high school football players out of an estimated pool of over 1,000,000 go on to play pro football. Achieving this type of success is clearly very limited to the smallest percentage of child athletes. Children who intensely specialize in one sport to the exclusion of others is not only setting themselves and sometimes their parents up for great disappointment, but the chance of "burn-out" and boredom is likely to be less when concentrating on a 3 discipline sport like triathlon.
 
Next Post: Wednesday, June 8, 2016: Powerful Lifestyle Tips - Why Multisport (Triathlon) is Great for Kids Tip #7- Everyone Has a Chance to Participate
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The American Academy of Pediatrics, in their guidelines for preventing overuse injuries in children, lists the importance of cross-training as a part of an athletic program. Triathlon racing consists of swimming, biking and running with an in-between period known as the transition phase.  Preparation for this sport has built in cross-training with weight bearing and non-weight bearing aerobic activity. It is a win-win proposition for any young athlete!
 
Next Post: Wednesday, June 8, 2016: Powerful Lifestyle Tips - Why Multisport (Triathlon) is Great for Kids Tip #6 – Burn Out and Boredom May Be Reduced

The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for the prevention of overuse injuries in young athletes maintains that participation in a single sport not exceed 5 days a week. Training in triathlon requires that the athlete diversify their training between swimming, biking, running and complementary activities such as strength and flexibility training.  With sports injuries in children accounting for 3.5 million events annually and half of those due to overuse, the built-in protective nature of mixing up one's training cannot be underestimated.  It is very important to protect teens from overuse injuries since they are particularly vulnerable to growth plate injuries which may result in permanent damage.  Short distance triathlon training and racing provides a healthy balance of activities and can be a safe and fun part of an individual's lifestyle from youth through the golden years.
 
Next Post: Wednesday, June 1, 2016: Powerful Lifestyle Tips - Why Multisport (Triathlon) is Great for Kids Tip #5 – Cross Training is Important

In 2015, the American Journal of Sports Medicine published a clear finding that young athletes specializing in a single sport are at increased risk for injury and serious overuse injury. Based on this, the American Academy of Pediatrics supports the recommendation that young athletes avoid specializing in one sport before puberty. This is primarily based on the fact that youngsters and teens, prior to the completion of their growth spurt, have a section of their bones called the growth plate, which is particularly vulnerable to injury. Injury to the growth plate can result in permanent growth damage.

 Next Post: Wednesday, May 25, 2016: Powerful Lifestyle Tips - Why Multisport (Triathlon) is Great for Kids Tip #4 – Participation Time in One Sport is Limited

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Triathlon training and racing with its 3 disciplines of swimming, biking and running ensures that participants have a balance of athletic activities. This supports the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations of maintaining a healthy balance of activities as part of their guidelines to prevent overuse injuries in the adolescent athlete. Overuse injuries account for at least half of the 3.5 million sports injuries in children that occur annually.

Next Post: Wednesday, May 18, 2016: Powerful Lifestyle Tips - Why Multisport (Triathlon) is Great for Kids Tip #3 – It Avoids Specialization in One Sport Prior to Puberty
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The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that physical education programs in schools emphasize lifetime sports. Lifetime sports include bicycling, jogging, walking, swimming, golf, tennis, skiing and other activities that can provide a lifetime of recreation and fun. It has been shown that lifestyles learned in childhood prevail into adulthood. Triathlon training and racing consists of swimming, biking and running, and provides a wonderful opportunity for youngsters, teens and their families to stay active and have great fun and satisfaction throughout their lives.

Next Post: Wednesday, May 4, 2016: Powerful Lifestyle Tips - Why Multisport (Triathlon) is Great for Kids Tip #2 - It Provides a Balance of Activities

Make a point of reflecting on what you have accomplished on a weekly basis. This will give you an opportunity to review your data and see where you are at with your goals. It also allows you to make prompt adjustments to your upcoming schedule if needed.  If everything is in order, it gives you a chance to celebrate where you are now, what you have done to date, and where you are headed next. Keep going!

Next Post: Wednesday, April 27, 2016: Powerful Lifestyle Tips - Why Multisports is Great for Kids Tip #1 – It’s a Lifetime Sport
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