Why Youth Athletes Need to Learn the 'Fundamentals of Movement'

'The Fundamentals of Movement' are natural and functional movements that humans perform to physical tasks. These include running, jumping, throwing, catching, skipping, changing directions and a number of strength based movements essential for human physical activity, health, daily tasks, sport performance and preventing injuries.

The strength based movements include the lower body, upper body and core that involves pushing, pulling and bracing type movements such as a squat, deadlift, vertical push & pull, horizontal push and pull and ability to stabilise the body's core.

All fundamental movements utilise our major muscle groups that are essential for daily tasks, stabilising our posture, protecting the spine, improves strength, speed and jumping ability.

Practicing basic movements helps improve coordination, body awareness, body control, ability to absorb force and apply force. Especially for young athletes, the fundamentals are especially important for developing strong bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons to be able to tolerate the high forces and impacts of sport or any physical activities.

At Inner Athlete we start our youth athletes with the basics/the fundamentals, we break down the movements and teach them how to perform each movement safely with correct technique and ensure they are moving well. We then progress our athletes by challenging the body with difficulty, resistance, intensity, or a combination depending on the movement to improve these fundamentals qualities. This allows the athlete to adapt and improve, making them stronger, faster, fitter and jump higher!

To improve human function and sport performance for young developing athletes we need to:

PREPARE athletes by teaching them the fundamental movements

PROGRESS the movements to improve on

PERFORM these movements consistently in a structured training program to get the best results

The athlete will then become healthier, stronger, faster, fitter and decrease the risks of injury.

To find out more about youth athletic development and achieving overall physical performance contact us via email.

Nathan Palenkas
Strength Coach
Inner Athlete