It's a purely unscientific view, but our U13's team recently recruited a couple of lads who've been playing football since they were 6 or 7; they're relatively green to RL, but are scoring tries for fun (one lad has scored 13 tries in 3 games) mostly by virtue of being able to accelerate from a standing start and change direction very quickly. I'm not a fan of the game at all, but these lads are almost certainly benefitting in RL terms from their football training.

In the context of this conversation, I guess a decent football training regime will include some sprint/speed work that's adapted to be appropriate to the sport?

Indeed football is an intermittent sprint sport, so change in pace is essential and they undertake a high level of high intensity short sprints and agility training and obviously the crossover has benefited their ability to play rugby. They do a lot of footwork training in football at a young age, which i would like to see more of in league.

There are areas obviously though that they may struggle on as well given that they came to the game late, especially as they mature, or rather those around them do and the game becomes more physical.

The lads in question are, fortunately, big raw-boned eejits who seem to relish the contact element of RL; what they lack in technique, they make up for in enthusiasm. Meanwhile, The Clan is working on their technique with some tackle-bag beastings.

My own son has a different issue - like me, he's below average size and has decided to compensate by hitting the weights and building strength; I can't see too much harm in it provided that he does relatively low weights and doesn't work to failure, but there is conflicting advice on t'internet about kids and weight training.

It depends on what stage of development he is. I would suggest bodyweight exercises especially if he is hitting maturity and about to go through a broth spurt. Too much weight lifting etc can cause issues with developing bones.

I do a body weight session myself every night and it is far more intense than my morning session in the gym. In my opinion although its seen as "non macho" bodyweight exercises are fantastic and very gruelling if worked into a good 20 to 30 minute session and will result in great strength improvements in a relatively short period of time, also excellent for core stability which assists in many aspects of our game especially prevention of injury.

Pretty much agree with Johnh so far,

We will be doing lots of ladder and slalom work during the off season.
Very rarely during a game of rugby do players run at speed in straight lines.

Sprint sessions will be mainly short distances although with some longer distance drills to improve speed endurance.

Cadence is a more individual thing and a bit of analysis will be required before planning sessions to improve technique.

Closer to the start of the season we will be utilising more game related practice that will incorporate elements of the above drills.

I never used to be 'lightening' fast but I could shift when I could be bothered, the best time I did for the 100m was 13.5 seconds which was a school record for a while. After 2 ACLs reconstructions and several other operations to sort out the niggles in the other knee do you think the harriers could help me too?!!

He's certainly hoping that a growth spurt is around the corner!

He's getting some light dumbells for Xmas and I've set him up a little gym in the cellar; I'm intending to put some wallcharts up with suitable bodyweight and low level resistance workouts and will be doing my best to ensure that he doesn't order a load of humatrope off t'internet - at least not with my credit card.

When I found out I was having a daughter instead of a son my heart sunk temporarily because I knew that I couldnt spend hours with her in the gym and put her on M-drol, h-drol, and other enhancing supplements.

Gutted!

At 13 years old I was selected at U16 level for the English Catholic schools Athletics team and attended Lilleshall Sports assessment centre for training. Whilst there I Was timed through gates at 10.61 seconds, from a standing start (had never even seen blocks) and was weaing cheap trainers.

I have always been told to not push weights on him but just use body weight but for Lewis even that became a problem due to his size, take for instance push ups he couldn't keep a straight body and his technique was appalling but he has now managed to make it a bit better.

I went out and bought a multi gym which is in the garage and will introduce him to repetitive exercise using just sufficient to tone than build him until told other wise to increase it

your very lucky having Richard as your coach who is so knowledgeable and I too feel that our coach Paul Lord is also taking the lads in the right direction on the field

That is lightening. I am glad that I didnt attend your school because I would of never had a moment of glory on prize night!

Seriously though, if you could coach me to get back to that standard (of around 13.5 seconds) I would quite happily make you a rich bloke.

its not something that I fear would hinder his development as I have made sure that firstly he has a love for the game in which he chose to do at the age of nine.

My lads have just started at Oulton. My oldest is 6 and has no interest despite being athletically very gifted, my youngest is 5 has a liver condition so can never play really and loves it, total animal in defence no fear.

Funny how things turn out!

thanks Jonh for bobbing down today to come and watch and also to Calder grove cat that has linked me to BM that also came down as well to today's game

I have come away with more positives in the way my lad can develop his game