Youth Fitness Guy Blog

Coordination - Sensitive Periods for Optimal Development

Overall coordination is best developed between the ages of 7 and 14, with the most crucial period occurring between the ages of 10 and 13 years of age. This applies to both girls and boys.

There are three principals of coordination development:

• Start young - the younger the better
• Challenge athletes at an appropriate level - some children will be better at some elements than others.
• Change activities/exercises frequently - Challenge athletes both physically and intelligently

The ability to optimally develop coordination ends at around age 16 for both boys and girls. This reinforces the concept that the earlier a child is exposed to coordination development the better. The younger years are also when the child’s nervous system is highly moldable and is very accepting to various stimuli.

Coordination is best developed through a combination of elements as opposed to isolation. 

Examples of activities that enhance the elements of coordination include:

• Jump rope
• Single leg balancing games
• Jumping jacks while traveling between points A and B, forwards, backwards and sideways
• Multi-directional forms of running, jumping and skipping
• Opposite arm circles (right hand circles forward, left hand circles backwards)
• Simultaneous arm and leg circles
• Jump in place with 180 or 360 turns while in flight
• Mirror games (mirroring each other's movements)
• Known exercises starting or finishing in new positions (start sprints from belly or one knee etc.

The key to working with children of all ages is to make everything FUN and ENGAGING. The goal is to enhance their coordination and turn them on to a lifetime of physical activity.

If you have any questions contact me at david@lebertfitness.com