Getting my 14 year old brother to train...

[UA_Iron]

So I will be at home this summer and I want to get my 14 year old brother to start training with me. I am looking for a workout partner/spotter and I think he'd be perfect. Plus maybe I can put all those hormones towards something productive. I am going to have him follow my split exactly the way I do it.

The split looks like this:
Day 1: Chest and Biceps
Day 2: Legs
Day 3: Shoulders and Triceps
Day 4: off
Day 5: Back and traps
Day 6: off
repeat


Does anyone think 14 is too young for him to start training?

I have heard that weight lifting while you're growing will stunt your growth, I really doubt this one but I figured I'd ask anyway?

 

[Becoming]

No dude he should be fine... I broke into the low 300s squatting my frosh year of HS...

start him with the basics and really train him to have good habits (technique, not cheating, eating right etc)

 

[UA_Iron]

Thanks man, I didnt think there would be a problem but I figured it would be better to get others opinions on the matter.

I am going to get him solid so when he goes into high school he'll be a step ahead of everyone else. Form and technique will be emphasized heavily. I'll work his ass off.

 

[cwick0]

14, 8th or 9th grade?

Dont push him to hard, just teach him the fundamentals.

From previous experiences...i knew a guy in middle school who had a personal trainer in 6th grade. By 8th grade he could dunk a basketball (only 5'8") with ease and was absolutely jacked. He was a man playing with boys, however, he developed a heart condition and had to quite training for a year. I believe his muscles out grew his heart.

Just be careful...corey

 

[Lord_Suston]

I really recommned that you truly emphasize form and whole body strength. For every rep he does wrong have him do something as a punishment. Also have hime start really light and slowly add weight, this will help motivation andalso let his bones, ligament and tendons adjust gradually. Up the rep range to the 10-15 at first to emphasize quality of working set, not just maxing out

 

[Sub-Zero]

im 16...does everything said here apply? like heart conditions and shit

 

[Synpax]

Do not forget his cardio. I think it's more important to train that than weights at that age (though weights are important). Get him on track to be able to do 3 miles in 18 minutes and other distances in respectably good times.

 

[chewyxrage]

im 16...does everything said here apply? like heart conditions and shit

I started lifting around 14 and I have no heart condition.....


Whatever that dude above said about his muscles "outgrowing" his heart isn't reasonable at all.

 

[Becoming]

im 16...does everything said here apply? like heart conditions and shit

you won't get a heart condition dude- it is almost nonexistent to "develop" a heart condition without drugs etc playing a role...

in most cases when stuff like that happens it is something congential or pre-existing that simply develops later in life... it would have happened regardless...

people should be so lucky to have an older brother like UA...

 

[big4life]

I really recommned that you truly emphasize form and whole body strength. For every rep he does wrong have him do something as a punishment. Also have hime start really light and slowly add weight, this will help motivation andalso let his bones, ligament and tendons adjust gradually. Up the rep range to the 10-15 at first to emphasize quality of working set, not just maxing out

What LS said.

I see way too many kids in with their father or brother trying to lift their max., and they are using the worst form imaginable. Teach him the proper form and he will thank you, and you will have a workout partner for years to come.

 

[bignate73]

should be no problem.

hit some endurance work, plyos, weights, bodyweight stuff. shake him up to keep things interesting. what you might think is fun might not be so exciting to him. if you mix everything up, he may enjoy it all!

 

[WalkingBeast]

I started when I was 14 and wish I started even earlier.

 

[cwick0]

I started lifting around 14 and I have no heart condition.....


Whatever that dude above said about his muscles "outgrowing" his heart isn't reasonable at all.

I hate to break the news to you, but the kid couldnt lift or play sports for a year. His body matured so fast that his heart was being strained.

 

[cwick0]

im 16...does everything said here apply? like heart conditions and shit

You should be perfectly fine. The gentleman i was referring to started training in the 6th grade.

 

[Tom Treutlein]

I'd get him to learn proper form on all basic compound moves. Higher rep ranges to help him to adjust. Probably throw him on some bodyweight training too, just to get things rolling.

I'd have to agree with Synpax to an extent. Get him in good shape. Cardio, man. Of course, I wouldn't want to run 3 miles but it would be kind of nice.

 

[Cuthbert]

I hate to break the news to you, but the kid couldnt lift or play sports for a year. His body matured so fast that his heart was being strained.

I really have to disagree with you about this. Unless the kid had a pre-existing heart condition, which is entirely possible, I highly doubt working out hard would cause it to practically fail on him.

 

[xevius]

I wouldnt have him do as many sets as you do at first. The split looks good though.

 

[Lord_Suston]

cwick0- the case you are thinking of is called cardiomeglia, or enlargement of the heart due to external stress. The most likely causes are hereditary but there is a basis for it in people who do not train there cardiovascular and use drugs.

I would recommend that each lifting session for your brother should be followed by cardio, running on upper body days and maybe boxing on lower body days. IT doesn't have to be much 15-25 mins, it will make his heart muscle condition for the amount of blood volume that is need in high weight excercises. Hence another reason why I reccommend higher reps per set.

But the best think you can really do is lead by example: evrything you do your brother will most likely imitate. SO have great from and never let the ego get in the way, I know I shouldn't have to say this but I really would not like to see anyone turn into the kids I see every day . He will wonder why and ask why you are doing the things you do, so keep a log handy to show him the logic behind what you are doing.

 

[d3track]

But the best think you can really do is lead by example: evrything you do your brother will most likely imitate. SO have great from and never let the ego get in the way, I know I shouldn't have to say this but I really would not like to see anyone turn into the kids I see every day . He will wonder why and ask why you are doing the things you do, so keep a log handy to show him the logic behind what you are doing.

yup

the max out stuff is were the problems will be
i was about 14-15 when i started with weights, my dad would take my to his gym and he and the others were great in helping me
it was for track and football

UA- you remind me of these guys
your lil bro is lucky if he takes advantage of this

 

[UA_Iron]

Thanks for all the replys guys. I am a stickler for form and I wont let him sacrifice form for higher weights.

As far as punishment for poor form...that can be arranged, hahah.

 

[bigdho]

I wish I would of had an older bro to push me to start working out at 14........I didnt start till 22. Shit,8 years makes a huge differance.........if I would of started at 14 and only added 5 lbs of mass a year I would have 40 extra lbs of mass............that would make my lean weight 270! I hope he understands what your doing for him.

 

[UA_Iron]

I wish I would of had an older bro to push me to start working out at 14........I didnt start till 22. Shit,8 years makes a huge differance.........if I would of started at 14 and only added 5 lbs of mass a year I would have 40 extra lbs of mass............that would make my lean weight 270! I hope he understands what your doing for him.

Yeah, I wish I started working out earlier, but it doesnt always happen like that. I am hoping I can give him something that he'll love to do, I know I get a lot from lifting.

 

[UA_Iron]

Also, what do you guys think about supplementation.

I'll make him take protein post workout. I think I'll stay of clear of creatine and other stuff like that - my parents wouldnt be too happy with that.

His diet is pretty high in protein already as we have BBQ chicken almost every night, haha. I will just make him eat a lot more....

how does that sound to everyone?

 

[Tom Treutlein]

He won't need creatine. He's young, and if you progress slowly at first to get him into lifting he'll be recovering just fine. Protein post-workout would be fine. No need to go crazy on supplements yet. I would say dextrose maybe but even still, he's young. You can let a lot of that shit slide. Unless you're gonna try and get him to be a bodybuilder.

Have him pound all the food he can.

 

[Tom Treutlein]

Oh, by the way, if you think he'll be concerned with stretch marks have him put some cocoa butter or vitamin E cream (or take a supplement for it) to help prevent it. Either that, or don't let him grow too quick. Just a thought because I know some people might not be happy with their stretch marks.

 

[zxe003]

I wish I would of had an older bro to push me to start working out at 14........I didnt start till 22. Shit,8 years makes a huge differance.........if I would of started at 14 and only added 5 lbs of mass a year I would have 40 extra lbs of mass............that would make my lean weight 270! I hope he understands what your doing for him.

You only started training at 22?! Damn man...that's both inspiring and dissapointing for me. For one thing, I'm glad I'm not the only one who started training seriously until my early 20's, but on the other hand...you're only 2 years older than me and your stats are fuckin dope. How long did you train before using gear? I've stayed natty (mostly because of my wife), but I'm itching to take it to the next level. Training and strength gains have been good...but could always be better! My main concern has been to drop my bf which is prolly high 20's low 30's. I wanted to get this down before even considering gear. Got any advice?...from someone who obviously has been doing shit right?

 

[chewyxrage]

BF high 20's to low 30's? are you bulking? do you ever read the diet board?

 

[zxe003]

Since I started training about 3 years ago, I've done nothing but lift weights. Hardly ever do cardio, and have been focused on nothing but getting bigger. I started out with a lot of fat to begin with (due to years of partying after h.s.) and terrible muscle development. I can proudly say now that I've got a great amount of muscle mass, but still got my love handles. I'm starting my first "real " cutting phase this Monday.