title: Effects of Resistance Training in Youth Athletes on Muscular Fitness and Athletic Performance: A Conceptual Model for Long-Term Athlete Development.
abstract: During the stages of long-term athlete development (LTAD), resistance training (RT) is an important means for (i) stimulating athletic development, (ii) tolerating the demands of long-term training and competition, and (iii) inducing long-term health promoting effects that are robust over time and track into adulthood. However, there is a gap in the literature with regards to optimal RT methods during LTAD and how RT is linked to biological age. Thus, the aims of this scoping review were (i) to describe and discuss the effects of RT on muscular fitness and athletic performance in youth athletes, (ii) to introduce a conceptual model on how to appropriately implement different types of RT within LTAD stages, and (iii) to identify research gaps from the existing literature by deducing implications for future research. In general, RT produced small-to-moderate effects on muscular fitness and athletic performance in youth athletes with muscular strength showing the largest improvement. Free weight, complex, and plyometric training appear to be well-suited to improve muscular fitness and athletic performance. In addition, balance training appears to be an important preparatory (facilitating) training program during all stages of LTAD but particularly during the early stages. As youth athletes become more mature, specificity, and intensity of RT methods increase. This scoping review identified research gaps that are summarized in the following and that should be addressed in future studies: (i) to elucidate the influence of gender and biological age on the adaptive potential following RT in youth athletes (especially in females), (ii) to describe RT protocols in more detail (i.e., always report stress and strain-based parameters), and (iii) to examine neuromuscular and tendomuscular adaptations following RT in youth athletes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Training and Movement Sciences, Research Focus Cognition Sciences, University of Potsdam Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Granacher
authors.affiliation: Division of Training and Movement Sciences, Research Focus Cognition Sciences, University of Potsdam Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lesinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Game and Combat Sports, Institute for Applied Training Science Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Büsch
authors.affiliation: Division of Training and Movement Sciences, Research Focus Cognition Sciences, University of Potsdam Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muehlbauer
authors.affiliation: Division of Training and Movement Sciences, Research Focus Cognition Sciences, University of Potsdam Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Prieske
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puta
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Sport Science, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gollhofer
authors.affiliation: School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, NL, Canada.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Behm
keywords: adolescents; children; muscle power; muscle strength; muscular endurance; physical fitness; weight lifting