CrossFit: Coming to a Preschool Near You | The Fit List | OutsideOnline.com

Although weight training can benefit teens, heavy weights should not be used with young children, says Dan Gould, director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University.

"I'm real leery of weights prior to puberty," Gould says.

http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/bodywork/the-fit-list/CrossFit-Coming-To-A-Preschool-Near-You.html

Funny quote.  Here's what the CrossFit Kids designers, Jeff and Mikki Martin, say about it:

"Since founding CrossFit Kids a decade ago, the Martins have received a variety of criticism and concerns over whether young people should be engaging in weight lifting and a program as rigorous as CrossFit. Many observers assume that kids are engaging in the same type of intense workouts as adult CrossFitters. The Martins respond by explaining that the workouts are tailored for every age group. CrossFit Kids doesn't load children with weight until they reach age 10 to 12. Before then, they max out with small medicine balls or light dumbbells.

"People see high-end, top athletes doing amazing things on CrossFit Games on TV, and they assume we're doing the same thing," Mikki says. "CrossFit Kids is developmentally appropriate to age.""

"How I Made My Training Sustainable and Injury Free"

http://breakingmuscle.com/strength-conditioning/a-different-version-of-crossfit-how-i-made-my-training-sustainable-and-injury-

I read this story and thought "how ridiculous it is to suggest that there's any alternative to doing CrossFit as do or die, my way or the highway, full on, full out, go big or go home, kill yourself w CrossFit or die trying!!"

OK, obviously I'm kidding, the point of CrossFit is to make yourself more fit, and you don't have to kill yourself trying.  CrossFit's high intensity is scaled, the right amount of intensity is relatively high - relatively high for you.  The guideline I like is "better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today."  You don't have to have a sub-3 minute Fran time to be a good CrossFitter.  You have to do Fran, and the other WODs, while striving for better movement, better effort, and trusting these process goals will deliver faster times.

The only thing I dislike about the article is the title, which implies Andy's interpretation wasn't always out there.  CrossFit has always been there for you to scale to your own ability, which is why 70 year olds, 20-something Games athletes and over-weight teens can all do the same WOD at the same time (by scaling the WOD to their ability and goals).

Phil Eich on CrossFit Kids

The CrossFit Kids curriculum is effective because it creates a physical learning environment that builds on the idea that all children have differing abilities and need to be challenged at their individual point of development in order for effective learning to take place. This differentiated instruction allows a child to continually and efficiently progress, minimizing the risk of frustration or stagnation. Every skill, every movement, every workout and every game can be scaled to a child’s ability (made easier or harder) so he or she is challenged by something difficult but not discouraged by something impossible. This not only allows for efficient and effective teaching and learning but also increases students’ desire to participate and challenge themselves.

CrossFit Kids uses the natural process of motor development to increase learning effectiveness and efficiency. Instead of confining a child’s development with rules and movement limitations of sports while running the risk of contributing to the detrimental effects of overspecialization, CrossFit Kids uses a child’s natural propensity for constantly varied movement by using constantly varied movement.

http://journal.crossfit.com/2013/05/crossfit-kids-as-a-physical-education-curriculum-a-pedagogical-perspective.tpl

Phil, not related but a fine gentleman, lays it down nicely!  It's a great read, I'm on my third time through and still digesting.

Young Athletes - Do Not Specialize!

"I started seeing a sharp increase in youth sports injuries, particularly baseball, beginning around 2000," Andrews told The Plain Dealer in a telephone interview. "I started tracking and researching, and what we've seen is a five- to sevenfold increase in injury rates in youth sports across the board. I'm trying to help these kids, given the epidemic of injuries that we're seeing. That's sort of my mission: to keep them on the playing field and out of the operating room.

"I hate to see the kids that we used to not see get hurt. ... Now they're coming in with adult, mature-type sports injuries. It's a real mess. Maybe this book will help make a dent."

http://www.cleveland.com/dman/index.ssf/2013/02/noted_surgeon_dr_james_andrews.html

The short version - kids need variation in the demands that are placed on their bodies.  To help them express their full potential, make them athletes first, sports specialists later.  They need strength and power, they need to sprint, jump and play.  Throwing baseballs or footballs all day every day is not the path to a healthy future.

CrossFit Kids - An Introduction

CFK Mac

CFK Windows

Ever wondered what CrossFit would be like applied to kids?  The answer is - incredible!  Look at these kids!

But it is also not just CrossFit done by younger people, it's an entirely different approach, for the obvious reasons, some of which my friends Jeff and Mikki Martin touch on in this video.

When they talk about changing children's lives - I've seen what they can do.  The kids they reach have a different life trajectory.  It is as transformational or more so than what is often seen for adults with CrossFit.

When I grow up and my CrossFit gym grows up I relish the idea of creating a gym like Jeff and Mikki's gym where kids can come and find safety, friends, adventure, challenge, and a culture of striving to reach that next milestone - through work and practice.

Young Athlete Specialization - Don't

Think specialization is a good idea for your youth athlete?  Think again.  Think about a 400% increase in the rate of youth ACL tears.
http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/CFJ_400_Martin_April12.pdf

What's a better idea?  Play a variety of sports and find a competent strength and conditioning coach to help your kids actualize their potential.