Kids as young as 8 years old sign with football clubs and live at Football Club Academies. One website describes the Brighton & Hove Albion FC Academy as “a place where dreams are fired, hopes are heightened and aspirations are raised.” Sam Blanchard (@SJBPhysio_sport) has had 4 years experience in junior development. He’s also a leader among the UK Physios in Sport (@SportsPhysios)

You’ll hear about (i) the typical day for a child/adolescent in this setting, (ii) how to vary training during the adolescent growth period to minimize risk of apophysitis etc. (iii) what to suggest to coaches and how to work with them, as well as (iv) practical tips for assessing maturity. Sam shares strategies for measuring load (including GPS) and uses that to both protect vulnerable athletes from injury as well as ensuring you can add the appropriate type of training as the child matures. A year after the growth spurt the adolescent can benefit from certain dynamic stabilization exercises or heavier resistance loads. In the 2nd half of the podcast Sam includes many practical tips from his vast experience.

Remember the UK Physios in Sport Annual Conference ‘The Younger Athlete’: Brighton, October, 9th & 10th October. http://bit.ly/1cLwHeX

Sam’s first BJSM podcast is on growth-related sport injuries: http://bit.ly/1HqnXsf