Age to start lifting weights?

[heavyg]

My 9 yr old son is playing football for the 1st time this year. But the kid is skinny as a rail even compared to the other kids his age. He was asking me tonight about lifting weights but I wasn't sure at what age it is safe for a young boy to start lifting. Can anyone enlighten me on this?

Thanks

Glen
heavyg

[peplaw06]

I haven't started yet (27). I'll let you know when I feel it's safe

[heavyg]

hahaha

[Crown Royal]

I would think that is too young to start lifting for strength/muscle building. But lifting easy stuff to get good habit probably wouldn't be too bad. Just supervise heavily?

Not an expert, just my opinion.

[heavyg]

I swear I don't know where he got his scrawniness (sp) he sure didnt get it from me...lol

[Yeagermeister]

I would also think that's too early but he could always start doing push ups, situps and running.

[heavyg]

Oh gosh the boy is always doing push ups and sit ups. I have actually heard something in his room at 2 in the morning. Went in and he was in the middle of his bed doing push ups. lol

[Yeagermeister]

Originally Posted by heavyg

Oh gosh the boy is always doing push ups and sit ups. I have actually heard something in his room at 2 in the morning. Went in and he was in the middle of his bed doing push ups. lol

I'd stick with that for a couple of yrs.......maybe get him a weight to hold while doing the situps and put on his back while doing pushups.

In the Army we did a version of a pushup called a diamond pushup. You place your hands under your chest with the index fingers and thumbs forming a diamond. It works a different set of muscles.

[heavyg]

Originally Posted by Yeagermeister

I'd stick with that for a couple of yrs.......maybe get him a weight to hold while doing the situps and put on his back while doing pushups.

In the Army we did a version of a pushup called a diamond pushup. You place your hands under your chest with the index fingers and thumbs forming a diamond. It works a different set of muscles.

Thanks for the info. I know I never saw a weight til I was in HS

God Bless

[Yeagermeister]

Originally Posted by heavyg

Thanks for the info. I know I never saw a weight til I was in HS

God Bless

I never lifted at all and weighed 170lbs soaking wet the whole time I was in HS.

[locked&loaded]

that is way to young to start lifting weights. It could stunt his growth and it wont help. You shoudlnt start lifting until at the earliest 14-15. Who lifts weight when your 9, that age its all about speed.

[Big Dakota]

As long as you don't take it as far as this kid's dad did, some light lifting won't hurt. But like the other poster said. lifting his own body weight is best till you get out of puberty. My old man bought me a Marcy home gym in 1978 when i was 11 and started wrestling and it didn't hurt me to lift. Guys like Bill Phillips of EAS would be a good place to start your research if you are intersted in the "pros" view.

[heavyg]

Originally Posted by Yeagermeister

I never lifted at all and weighed 170lbs soaking wet the whole time I was in HS.

When I graduated I weighed 211 lbs. I could bench press just over 300 but could squat 550. No I probably couldn't come close to either of those marks and am severely overweight :-(

[dargarin]

The experts say 12 but some light weight lifting won't hurt. It doesn't stunt your growth. That's a myth. He won't gain muscle because he isn't producing testosterone yet, but he will get stronger. Total supervision is needed if he does to prevent injuries. Emphesize good form. Explosive movements build strength. Focus on bench, squats and deadlifts. Make sure he's getting enough protein (anything from an animal that's not fat or bone).He needs that anyway for his brain development. Your brain makes new synapsis pathways untill your 10, then starts to get rid of the unused ones. So the more he makes untill he's ten the better and protein feeds the brain. If he's just trying to gain some weight increase good calories. Low fat meats and carbs. Some good fat like omega-3's are great and important for all development and strength. Children's multi-vitamins are also very important.

[Zaxor]

Originally Posted by peplaw06

I haven't started yet (27). I'll let you know when I feel it's safe

I don't know man I heard they are pretty heavy