Youth Weightlifting and Sports Specialization: When Should Kids Start?
Presented by Phil Plisky and Rick Howard
Audio Runtime: 52 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 21 Minutes
Are you looking for evidence-based clarity on youth strength training and early sports specialization? Host Phil Plisky, PT, DSc, ATC, CSCS, sits down with Dr. Rick Howard, DSc, CSCS*D, RSCC*E, FNSCA—an associate professor of applied sports science, youth conditioning researcher, and master’s strongman competitor—to bust the most common myths surrounding youth fitness. Together, they bring you into a dynamic, practical conversation on how to safely build healthy lifetime habits without driving burnout or injury. You will learn the three essential clinical criteria for when kids can safely begin resistance training, how early sports specialization impacts long-term athletic development, and how to use patient-centered strategies like the “physical activity plate” in your practice. Tune in to discover how rehab and performance professionals can lead the shift toward a healthier, stronger future for young athletes.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the evidence around youth sports participation, resistance training, and physical activity
- Apply evidence-based, practical strategies to actionably address how a lack of common language has led to confusion in youth sports, resistance training, and physical activity
- Solve patient case scenarios involving youth who want to specialize in one sport
This is an audio-only course. Additional materials are available for download within the course. To receive continuing education credit, complete the course and the accompanying quiz.
Meet your instructors
Phil Plisky
Dr. Phil Plisky is a professor in the University of Evansville’s Doctor of Physical Therapy and PhD in Health Professions Education programs. He is the host of the Medbridge Rehab and Performance Lab podcast and founder of the Coaches Club at
Rick Howard
Dr. Rick Howard earned his doctorate in health promotion and wellness from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (Provo, Utah). He is an associate professor of applied sports science and the sports performance coordinator at West Chester University (Pennsylvania) and a visiting professor in the sport science…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Youth Weightlifting and Sports Specialization: When Should Kids Start?
Host Phil Plisky sits down with Dr. Rick Howard to debunk common myths surrounding youth resistance training and early sports specialization, offering clinicians evidence-based, practical strategies to foster long-term physical activity and athletic development in young athletes.
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