Kids Still Set Examples for Adults to Follow

Many of my readers probably dont know that Ive been the head coach for our local Middle School Swimming and Diving Team for 11 years now. Its been a fascinating and often trying experience for me to work with this age group of athletes. I love it, but not always! Anyhow, just yesterday at practice I pulled all of them together to tell them about the observation I had while leading them in their dry-land exercises. The dry-land exercises are exercises that are out of the water and focus primarily on strengthening and stretching. Theyd include exercises like abdominal crunches, push-ups, planks, supermans, dips, lunges, squats, tuck-ups, calf raises and an entire variety of stretches.

My observation is that these kids have gotten a lot stronger and a lot more flexible! Weve been doing these dry-land exercises for 4 weeks now and I told them yesterday that I see a noticeable difference in how their exercises are being performed. I try (let me emphasize try) to encourage them to focus on good form and technique while doing any kind of exercise, whether we are in the pool or on deck and its working. They are stronger and many of them are now touching their toes, which were previously out of reach.

This takes me back to another ole faithful topic of mine regarding exercise and practicing healthy habits. Its sometimes just as simple as the kids make it! If you follow a routine for a short amount of time (i.e. 4 weeks) and stay consistent with the routine, you will see results. Just like I am seeing with these kids! I can honestly say that across the board the kids who have been at practice the most and been consistent are doing just about perfect push-ups on the deck; yes even my more un-athletic girls and my totally uncoordinated boys.

Another observation that Ive noticed is that the summertime chubbiness and lazy attitudes are gone as well. I think that they too, have noticed that they are stronger, leaner, and more flexible and they feel a whole lot better since theyve been involved in a sport and been exercising regularly. I cant image how improved their self image is when they can complete a set of 15 perfect push-ups without dropping to their knees when only 2 weeks ago they couldnt do it.

Its no different in real life. Just because we dont have a sport to participate in and to train for, doesnt mean that we wont achieve the exact same results and benefits. As these kids have shown me these last four weeks, its about consistency and dedication. When these two factors are put into play in any aspect of your life, but in this case into your health and fitness, youre going to get results. Theres no way to avoid it. I can use the example of the Six

Week-Womens Workout classes that I was leading all of last year and into the early part of this year. The women who committed to the six weeks of training and were consistent and dedicated got results and they too could do just about perfect pushups (if were using that as a guide in this article).

Another thing that is amazing about exercises that focus on strength and flexibility is that when a person or athlete is both of these (strong and flexible) they become better at their athletic event. Ive observed this with my swimmers, the stronger they get outside the pool the stronger and faster they get inside of it. Kids, who couldnt get their arms out of the water to perform the butterfly stroke, can now do a better job of it.

These benefits dont stop with the kids either, we can also achieve bigger, faster and stronger benefits when consistency and dedication is applied to our own exercise programs for life. You might not need to race a competitor for a first place finish in a swimming event, but you sure are racing the competitor of aging, for your quality of life, against obesity and to win the race of health and happiness. You never know, you too might be able to touch your toes again sometime!

 

Deborah Holmes

September 9, 2008