SGP JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT
YOU DON’T TRAIN A JUNIOR LIKE AN ADULT.
Junior golf fitness must evolve as the athlete grows. Growth changes the body, physical capacities and training priorities. A young golfer’s physical development must therefore adapt with them, step by step.
BUILD THE ATHLETE. DEVELOP THE GOLFER.
GROWTH CHANGES THE PRIORITIES
AGE DOESN’T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.
Two juniors of the same age can have very different physical needs. Growth, maturation, coordination and movement experience all influence what a young athlete is ready to develop. Age groups provide direction. The individual athlete determines the priority.
WE DON’T TRAIN AN AGE. WE DEVELOP AN ATHLETE.
DEVELOPMENT PHASES
EACH STAGE HAS ITS OWN PRIORITIES.
Age groups provide reference points. The young athlete’s actual stage of development always comes first.
01
5–7 YEARS
EXPLORE
Move in every direction. Run, jump, throw, catch, turn and balance. At this age, the priority is to build a rich movement foundation and develop a genuine enjoyment of movement.
MOVEMENT · BALANCE · COORDINATION · PLAY
02
8–10 YEARS
BUILD
Coordination becomes more complex. The young athlete learns to control the body more effectively, change direction, accelerate, decelerate and produce more precise movements.
COORDINATION · SPEED · AGILITY · CONTROL
03
11–13 YEARS
DEVELOP
Growth can rapidly change body awareness and movement patterns. Mobility, stability, coordination and speed must be reassessed regularly so training can adapt throughout this period of change.
GROWTH · MOBILITY · STABILITY · SPEED
04
14–17 YEARS
PERFORM
Physical development becomes more structured. Strength, power, speed and the ability to repeat high-quality efforts take on a greater role, always according to the athlete’s level of maturation.
STRENGTH · POWER · SPEED · PERFORMANCE
AGE PROVIDES A REFERENCE POINT. GROWTH AND MATURATION SET THE PACE.
DEVELOP OVER TIME
THE PROGRAM EVOLVES BECAUSE THE JUNIOR EVOLVES.
A young athlete can progress quickly, go through a growth spurt, change movement patterns or develop new physical qualities within just a few months. Training must therefore be reassessed regularly to continue meeting their actual needs. This is the foundation of junior golf physical training built for long-term development. This is the foundation of junior golf fitness built for long-term development.
01
OBSERVE
Understand the athlete’s current level, physical capacities and the changes related to growth.
02
PRIORITIZE
Choose the physical qualities that matter most to develop at that specific moment.
03
DÉVELOP
Progressively build the physical capacities that match the young athlete’s current profile.
04
REASSESS
Track changes and adjust the program whenever the body or training needs evolve.
DEVELOPMENT ISN’T LINEAR. TRAINING SHOULDN’T BE EITHER.
FROM DEVELOPMENT TO PERFORMANCE
BUILD FIRST. SPECIALIZE LATER.
With juniors, the goal is not to introduce swing-like exercises too early. The priority is to build a body that can run, jump, decelerate, accelerate, produce force and control movement. As the athlete develops, those physical qualities can progressively be directed toward the demands of golf performance.
01
ATHLETIC FOUNDATION
Movement skills, coordination, balance, agility and the ability to move confidently in every direction.
02
PHYSICAL CAPACITIES
Mobility, stability, strength, speed and power developed progressively according to maturation.
02
TRANSFER TO GOLF
Progressively express those qualities through movement, clubhead speed and the physical demands of the game.
PERFORMANCE IS BUILT LONG BEFORE YOU START MEASURING IT.
SGP JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT