Training Isn’t Just for Athletes
When most people think about our athlete training program, they picture kids trying to get faster for football, stronger for baseball, or more explosive for basketball.
And yes — we absolutely help athletes improve their performance in sports.
But honestly, that’s only part of what we do.
Some of the most rewarding transformations we see in the gym come from teenagers who aren’t heavily involved in sports at all.
Some come because they simply want to get stronger.
Some want to learn how to work out.
Some want to feel healthier.
Some just need a place where they can grow in confidence.
And for a lot of teenagers today… that matters more than ever.
One of the biggest changes I notice in these teens has nothing to do with the weight on the bar.
It’s confidence.
A lot of kids walk into the gym for the first time unsure of themselves. Head down. Quiet. Nervous. Unsure where they fit in. Maybe a little anxious or shy.
That’s normal.
But over time, something starts to change.
They begin learning movements.
They see themselves getting stronger.
They add weight to exercises they once struggled with.
They realize they can do hard things.
And slowly, that confidence starts carrying over into everyday life.
You see it in the way they walk into the gym.
You see it in the conversations they start having.
You see it in the eye contact, posture, and willingness to speak up.
Parents notice it too.
I’ve had many parents tell me they’ve seen improvements not only physically, but socially, emotionally, and academically as well.
Sometimes that confidence even opens doors they never expected.
I’ve seen teens who originally had no interest in school sports eventually decide to try something new because they finally believed in themselves enough to give it a shot.
Another thing we see often during the teenage years is kids simply trying to figure out their bodies.
Some are growing rapidly.
Some are going through major hormonal changes.
Some suddenly feel awkward and uncoordinated after a growth spurt.
Strength training can help tremendously with body awareness, coordination, posture, balance, and overall movement control. It helps teenagers learn how to move well and feel comfortable in their own bodies again.
And beyond all of that, there are major long-term health benefits.
We’ve had teens improve body composition, gain muscle, lose weight, improve posture, move better, and simply feel healthier overall.
But maybe one of my favorite things we teach is independence.
Some parents come to us because their teen wants to work out on their own eventually — maybe at the YMCA, Planet Fitness, or with friends — but they don’t really know what they’re doing yet.
We take a lot of pride in teaching the why behind training.
Not just “do this exercise,” but:
what it trains
why it matters
how to do it safely
how to progress correctly
Our goal is to help them build a lifelong skill.
Because whether someone plays sports or not, learning how to take care of your body through strength training is something that can benefit them for decades.
Inside our sessions, we still incorporate athletic-style movements because they’re incredibly valuable for overall development:
short sprints
jumps
medicine ball throws
coordination work
Then we move into strength training.
Each session focuses on foundational movement patterns:
squat movements
upper body pushing
upper body pulling/rows
hinge movements for the glutes and hamstrings
From there we add accessory work for things like:
arms
shoulders
core
posture
stability
We usually finish with loaded carries, which are fantastic for core strength, grip strength, posture, and overall athleticism.
Most importantly, we teach them how to progress the right way.
No ego lifting.
No maxing out every week.
No trying to impress people.
Just learning how to slowly improve over time through consistency and smart training.
At Build Performance, our mission has never been just creating better athletes.
It’s helping young people become stronger, healthier, and more confident versions of themselves.
And sometimes the biggest wins happen far beyond sports.
Parents, want to train alongside your child? Each receiving small group style coaching and goal specific programming? Check out our Hybrid Classes…
