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Youth Athletic Development: The 3 Things Every Athlete Should Be Training Before High School
- Coach Damron
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
When it comes to youth athletic development, there’s a lot of pressure to do more, start earlier, and specialize faster. More teams. More games. More exposure.
But development doesn’t work that way.
Before high school, the goal isn’t to create a finished product. The goal is to build a foundation, one that won’t crack as the game gets faster, stronger, and more competitive.
Here are the three things every athlete ages 8–14 should be training before high school, regardless of sport.
1. Fundamentals: The Non-Negotiables of Youth Athletic Development
Fundamentals are the backbone of every good athlete.
That means:
Basic footwork while dribbling
Proper passing mechanics
Shooting form
Defensive stance and movement
Balance, spacing, and body positioning
These skills don’t look flashy. They don’t always make great highlight videos. But they matter more than anything else.
One of the biggest mistakes in youth sports is skipping this phase. When kids are thrown into nonstop competitive games, they’re often just trying to survive. There’s no space to slow down, learn, and make mistakes.
Athletes need pressure-free reps:
Playing on the playground with friends
Working alone in the driveway without someone watching
Training with a coach who allows them to learn at their own pace
Strong fundamentals give athletes confidence, and confidence changes everything.
2. Overall Athleticism: Don’t Leash the Athlete Too Early
Early specialization is one of the most common issues I see in youth sports.
When kids are forced into one sport too early, we often limit:
Balanced athletic development
Natural movement variety
Body awareness and coordination
Athletes should be able to control their bodies and move how they want, even in movements they’ve never done before. That’s real athleticism.
Running, jumping, stopping, changing direction, rotating, landing, these skills transfer across every sport. The more movement problems an athlete solves early, the more adaptable they become later.
Youth athletic development should encourage:
Playing multiple sports
Learning new movement patterns
Becoming comfortable being uncomfortable
This creates athletes who don’t panic when the game gets faster or more complex.
3. Resiliency: Learning What You Can (and Can’t) Control
Many young athletes care deeply, and that’s a good thing.
But too often, that care turns into visible frustration after mistakes. Missed shots. Turnovers. Errors. The reaction is immediate.
Resiliency doesn’t mean pretending mistakes don’t matter. It means learning where to place your attention.
Young athletes need to understand early:
You can’t control outcomes
You can control effort, focus, and response
Teaching kids to shift their attention toward what they can control builds confidence, composure, and long-term enjoyment of the game.
This mental skill is just as trainable as a jump shot, and it’s one of the most overlooked parts of youth athletic development.
Why This Approach Matters Long-Term
We’re intentional about how we train athletes.
That means:
Focusing on foundations, not just flashy skills
Building athletes who can adapt as the game gets harder
Creating a positive environment that encourages growth
The goal is to help athletes develop tools they can use on their own, long after training sessions or even competitive sports end.
When fundamentals are solid, athleticism is balanced, and resiliency is learned early, athletes don’t just perform better, they enjoy the process more.
And that’s what keeps them playing, improving, and growing.
Final Thought
If you’re working with an athlete between 8 and 14, don’t rush the process.
Build the base.
Let them move.
Teach them how to respond.
That’s how real youth athletic development happens, and how athletes set themselves up for success at every level.