1. Hire a qualified trainer and ask about his or her qualifications and continuing education.  Volunteers most likely do not have the instruction and latest research to work with developing bodies.  The International Youth Conditioning Association specializes in youth sports and fitness training for fitness professionals.  That is the best place to start searching credentials.

2. Watch that trainer in action with your child or other children.  A spectating parent is best able to judge experience and personality from the interaction between the child and the professional.  If you’re not feeling a good vibe, then this might not be the best trainer for your child.

3. Ask the trainer about his or her program design and why they have the kids do what they do.  A good trainer will be excited to share the ideas behind the program design, which is the nuts and bolts of what they do with a class of children from day-to-day, week-to-week and so forth.  The trainer should be able to explain how the elements of the exercises will help the child.

4. Be very leery of forcing kids to do too much too soon, which is a common and potentially injurious problem in youth training. The best methods of implementing weight training for kids is to teach fun, game-based movement using primarily body weight. Only when their bodies and minds show enough maturity and proper technique (usually around middle school age, but occasionally younger), can you safely add tools like bands, dumbbells or other free-motion devices.  Generally, I’m not a fan of machines for kids nor adults as the body doesn’t learn to stabilize and hold itself.

5. Ask yourself, “Does the training (or practice) schedule allow us to have important family time, give my child time to study and, most importantly eat and sleep?”  The most important thing your child can do is grow and develop while getting stronger AND for your family to have time together!  If he or she is not getting at least 9-12 hours of sleep, then it’s time to evaluate priorities and start cutting out things that affect these essential elements of family life.  Maybe that’s television (hurray) or an overloaded practice schedule (yes, that does happen these days).

Remember sports are important for physical development, but if your child is not eating substantial calories to fuel themselves let alone the proper nutrients to develop healthy bodies, then they can be looking at a future of osteoporosis, anemia, inflammatory conditions, emotional stress and much worse.