ABSTRACT
This book has shown the many benefits that youths can gain from participating in various types of strength and conditioning exercise throughout childhood. However, it also needs to be realized that sports participation is not without its risks and that child athletes should be viewed as a vulnerable population. Consequently, strength and conditioning coaches need to take responsibility for helping to ensure the child athlete has positive experiences during their involvement in sport. Reflecting this view the International Olympic Committee consensus statement on training elite child athletes states that the entire sports process should be pleasurable and fulfilling (Mountjoy et al., 2008). A statement that should apply equally to all children involved in strength and conditioning programmes. For the purposes of this chapter a child will be considered as anyone under 18 years old, reflecting the definition of the United Nations. Consequently, the strength and condition coach could be considered to have legal, ethical and moral responsibilities for maintaining and promoting the well-being of this vulnerable population. Well-being has been defined as a positive and sustainable state that allows individuals, groups or nations to thrive and flourish (Huppert et al., 2004). Sports participation has been recognized as a vehicle that can facilitate improved wellbeing among children (Steptoe and Butler, 1996). Similarly, it is hoped that strength and conditioning programmes can help to promote well-being in children. However, a risk of sports participation is that it may, directly or indirectly, have a negative impact on a child’s well-being, in terms of physical, social and psychological development (Oliver et al., 2011). By understanding and controlling the factors that can influence well-being, the strength and conditioning coach can help maximize the enjoyment and development of the child athlete. Positive or negative experiences within sport are likely to increase or decrease a child’s sense of well-being, respectively. It is believed that the coach-athlete
relationship is one of the most important influences on athlete motivation and subsequent application in training (Mageau, 2003), and the strength and conditioning coach must work hard to develop this relationship. In a recent report, Alexander et al. (2011) surveyed 6,000 young adults regarding their experiences as children in organized sport in the UK. Results of that survey showed that 75 per cent of respondents reported having experienced emotional harm and 25 per cent had experienced physical harm. This chapter will aim to identify possible threats to well-being, both physical and non-physical, and ways to maximize the development of a sense of well-being in youth athletes.
