PLAY TO IMPROVE
Boys 12-16 // Girls 11-15
OBJECTIVES:
Continue to reinforce basic and fundamental golf movement skills and build those skills into introductory competitive experiences.
PLAY TO IMPROVE CHECKLIST:
✔ Introduce aerobic training as the child matures to further develop levels of skill, speed, strength and flexibility
✔ Encourage flexibility training, as the rapid growth of bones during this stage leads to stress on tendons, ligaments and muscles
✔ Note that both aerobic and strength training are dependent on the maturation levels of the youth. For this reason, the periods during which aerobic and strength training are emphasized depend on whether an athlete is an early, average or someone who matured late
✔ Learn to cope with the physical and mental challenges of competition and further develop mental skills
✔ Appropriate equipment for body size and skill level continue to be important as the child grows and changes
✔ Optimize training and competition ratios and follow a 60:40 percent training-to-competition ratio (the 40 percent includes competition-specific training and actual competitions). Too much competition wastes valuable training time
✔ At later stages encourage more serious golfers to focus on two sports based on their desire to participate
✔ Golfer training should include competitive situations in the form of practice matches, competitive games and drills
PLAY TO IMPROVE GOLFER DEVELOPMENT#
ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT
Agility, footwork, balance, complex coordination, strength, core strength and flexibility.
TECHNICAL (SKILLS) DEVELOPMENT
Consolidating and beginning to master technical skills. Exploring variations – developing consistency under pressure. Focusing on putting, chipping, full swing, bunker play, green reading, pitching and club selection.
PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
Love of the sport, focus, simple goal setting, self- motivation, confidence, learning to make decisions, developing self-reliance, understanding winning and losing. Respect for others.
SOCIAL-BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT
More independent, able to share, improved decision making ability. Desire independence and are building confidence. Peer group acceptance becomes important and physical competency plays a role in how one is perceived. Girls tend to form close knit friendships, boys have more broad relationships.
PRACTICE
Continuing random practice sessions in different environments. 45-90 minutes per session. 5-7 hours per week. Include fun, on-course play.
COMPETITION
Competition is good at this stage. However, the competition should include fun and social activities as well. Stakes of competition are increased – particularly when travel is involved. Important to note that long distance travel takes away from practice time which is crucial at this stage. 60% of time should be spent training and only 40% of time in competition. 9, 18, 36 and 54 hole events can be played with an emphasis on 18 hole events.
EQUIPMENT
Kids should have a full set of equipment at this stage. Note that depending on growth spurt the equipment should be monitored closely, as they can outgrow it in the midst of the season.
WHERE TO PLAY
Course length for males up to 6,400 yards. Females up to 5,800 yards. This is a guideline and appendix 2 should be viewed.
WHAT A PARENT SHOULD KNOW
Parents must monitor the growth spurt at this stage. Communication should increase between child and parent as they discuss the child’s sporting options. Parents can help with input as the child looks to specialize in specific sports. Golf is a late specialization sport and late developers should be encouraged NOT to drop out of golf. Parents should also facilitate the relationship with any coaches and put the child and school before sport. Parents should ensure rest and nutrition are focused as well.