Youth sports invest in early, advance training

By Kyle Wilcox | Cronkite News

Aug. 4, 2017

PHOENIX – Youth sports is an ever-growing industry. With that comes an endless supply of competition for youth athletes. Parents want their children to stand out in the crowd and perform at a higher level. With that, private training is an option, and it can help athletes improve. However, it can be pricey with some trainers charging anywhere from $40-$50 per hour or around $140 per month depending on the type of plan. Is it worth the cost?

Parents are faced with this question, and one Arizona parent believes it is indeed worth the money. Heather Koester has an 11-year-old daughter named Camryn, who trains multiple times a week at Redline Athletics Scottsdale along with playing basketball in Cave Creek. Camryn typically plays basketball with an all-boys group at Desert Elite Basketball.

Why you might ask?

She says she does it to get better and stronger, and her mother believes she has. Heather does not mind paying for her daughter to train because Camryn enjoys it and they claim that she is constantly improving. PJ Garcia, the general manager of Redline Athletics Scottsdale, says he sees kids coming in younger to train and improve their skills. Injuries in youth sports is another widespread issue, but Arizona physical therapist, Brett Fischer, believes youth athletes have better chances of preventing injury by training with private coaches.

There is something important to remember though. Going to trainers does not guarantee that athletes will significantly improve their chances at getting a college scholarship or going professional. According to the NCAA, only two percent of high school athletes will receive scholarships to Division I and II schools. Personal training for youth athletes can be beneficial, but it is important to remember that it does not guarantee success.