Have you introduced a wide variety of sports to your child and have noticed that he or she loves most, if not all, of them to the point that he or she excels in them? Are you feeling a competitive spirit deep within your child? Have they asked if it was possible to play several sports in one event? If you said 'yes' to any of the questions, consider discussing with him or her the concept of the multi-stage competition like the triathlon, then proceed with doing the steps highlighted below if he or she shows even a little bit of interest.
Show Videos and Photos of Triathlon Events
This can actually be done at the start of discussions, but if it's not possible at the moment, you can do this later. When doing this, make sure to showcase how popular it is among athletes of most other sports and what should be expected when participating in this kind of event (including the possibility of injuries).
Swim Training is Crucial
How crucial is swim training? Experts have highlighted swimming to be the most dangerous phase of kids' and adults' triathlon events alike, so there should be considerable emphasis on this phase. Thus, it follows that you need to enroll the child into a comprehensive swimming programme under a highly reputed coach who knows how to prepare athletes and enthusiasts for triathlon. Home workouts are optional, but highly recommended in the form of sessions in a home pool. To ensure that the child gets the right amount of swim training at home, design for home exercise pools, as well as their construction, should be done by trustworthy builders only.
Gradual Increases for Both Biking and Running
When the time comes for the child to be trained in the cycling phase of triathlon, the best approach is the gradual increase of their workload. Cycling training should begin with a slow ride until half the required distance for the event is reached. The required cycling distance for younger kids is two miles, and four miles for older children. Each week, increase the distance covered.
The same applies with the running phase, but instead of letting the child stop after having covered half the required event distance in a slow run, he or she must be instructed to walk the distance remaining. Escalate training by adding more running in place of some time walking every week. Three weekly running sessions is already plenty, and for best results, let the kid run on a soft surface instead of asphalt or concrete.
Injury Prevention During Training
Children's bodies are prone to injuries like overheating, cartilage damage, tendon pulls, ligament tears, and fractures. If you or the coaches you hire to help them train are not careful, the chances of permanent damage associated with excessive training increase. Permanent damage can happen to growth plates that are in the feet, ankles, knees, pelvis, arms, and shoulders, if training is not done carefully.
As such, it's important for parents like you to consult a paediatrician before any training begins.
No Stress, Just Fun
Aside from the possibility of injuries, triathlon events also put the child at risk of psychological damage associated with the stress of competing. To combat such problems, emphasis should be given to participation, not competition.
Author Bio: Rey Carlos Rosales is a content creator who takes pride in the depths he is willing to go to ensure his articles are rich in facts. By day, he creates written content on a wide variety of topics, such as topics related to swimming and Premier Pools water features. At night, he works on his superhero and military fiction stories.
Image Source: Pixabay, Pixabay Pixabay
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