Because weightlifting is such a terrific sport in terms of youth development, a weightlifting program should be part of every school and community center in the world. Virtually every child, beginning at the 9-10 year age range, can participate at a level appropriate for him or her. No matter how weak or out of condition, or how strong and well conditioned a child is, the proper level of weight training can benefit that child mentally and physically. And, done correctly, weightlifting is one of the safest activities one can perform.
The great news for schools and community centers is that a weightlifting program can be started with as little as a few hundred dollars and as little as 250 square feet of training space. Instruction for parents, teachers and coaches who wish to supervise such programs is readily available at reasonable cost. if you are interested in starting such a program in the NYC area, please feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help. If you are outside the NYC area, please contact USA Weightlifting at usaw@usaweightlifting.org.