personal training for 11yo? does this exist?

[Anonymous]

Kid wants to start personal training or "working out" like mom and dad. He plays rec bball, soccer, basketball, and flag football. Limited interest as a family in travel sports. As his parents, we're fit but fat, run/walk/bike daily, lift weights a few times a week, have two active dogs, enjoy hiking and being outside. Kid often jumps on treadmill or Peloton when one of us is working out, but neither myself nor his dad are qualified to personal train a kid. Kid also doesn't love to take advice from us. Our neighbor is a personal trainer, and kid saw that and was interested. It doesn't look like any local Arlington gyms allow 11yos. Does anyone know any personal trainers (group is fine, doesn't have to be 1:1) in the NoVA area, preferably Arlington or Falls Church?

[Anonymous]

I would assume for liability purposes, no trainers would work 1:1 with a child under 18yo. Nor, as a parent, would I let my minor work unsupervised with an adult that had not going through a background check and/or SafeSport training.

I'd look for small group classes or training at gym near you. Many have teen membership options - our kids had OneLife memberships as teenagers.

[Anonymous]

Yes, Capstone in Falls Church. It's near Solace and Zinga.

[Anonymous]

Are you near Healthy Baller? I think they have one in Arlington. They absolutely work with kids under 18.

There are others, but I'm not well versed in your Virginia options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you near Healthy Baller? I think they have one in Arlington. They absolutely work with kids under 18.

There are others, but I'm not well versed in your Virginia options.

Sorry, meant to say HB is in Alexandria

[Anonymous]

Several franchises (Athletic Republic) offer personal training type services for kids and there are definitely trainers in independent gyms that will do it. Small group classes would likely be more enjoyable for your kid. I make my 11 yo do a teen yoga class after recovering from an injury because his sports teams do a terrible job of stretching.

[Anonymous]

Capstone! It's in Falls Church and Baileys Crossroads- they specialize in kids.

[Anonymous]

My kid used to work with Khalid. He was great but expensive. He traveled all over NOVA. Here is is website. It doesn’t specifically mention kids but back then be worked with a a lot of teens and some tweens. http://kamlife.com/

[Anonymous]

I think some crossfit places have crossfit teens.

[Anonymous]

You could try a kids ninja gym, they are usually in the same place as crossfit

There's also True AP

[Anonymous]

I see kids at my personal training gym on a regular basis. In summer it's high school athletes, but sometimes younger. Usually it's 2-3 kids (I think more to spread the cost) but sometiems one on one. There's other people in the gym so there would be no concern about the trainer being alone with an under 18.

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of personal trainers that work with child athletes. My 11 year old works with one. I would much prefer 1:1 because I have concerns over bad form, etc. My DS does this because while he's very active in his sport (swimming), he has weaknesses and we are concerned that he will hurt himself by not spreading the physical load appropriately. It's so easy for a kid - and an adult - to focus on the bigger, easily accessible muscles and not concentrate on the smaller muscles needed for the longer practices.

[Anonymous]

Why can’t you as a parent train them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you as a parent train them?

OP here, because I'm an attorney and not a professional PT? Same reason I don't homeschool him? But also as a previous poster said, kids have different needs than I, a 47 yo woman have and understand, when it comes to training. Whereas I work with my physical therapist to not pee myself every time I laugh, sneeze, or cough, I don't think my 11yo son needs to do the same exercises?

[Anonymous]

Look for a place that offers group speed and agility training, or that advertises performance training. We’re no longer in NOVA but my kids go to one in our city that’s owned by a former NFL player and he has them do exercises and drills geared to help with their sports. If his rec sports organizations also have competitive teams their office may be able to recommend someplace close to you.