A high school athlete who is beginning a resistance training program should train how many times per week?

The recommendation for a high school athlete starting a resistance training program to train three or four times per week is grounded in several key principles of athletic development. This frequency allows the athlete to establish a solid foundation for strength while also ensuring adequate recovery time, which is crucial for young athletes.

Training three or four times weekly strikes a balance between sufficient stimulus for muscle adaptation and recovery. It enables the body to gradually adapt to the stresses of resistance training, promoting improvements in strength without leading to excessive fatigue or an increased risk of injury. This is particularly important for high school athletes who are still growing and developing.

Additionally, this frequency can help athletes develop proper technique and proficiency in various exercises, which is critical for both performance enhancement and injury prevention. Training sessions can focus on different muscle groups or movement patterns, allowing for a well-rounded approach to strength training.

Choosing a frequency beyond three or four times per week, such as five or six times or training every day, may lead to burnout or higher injury rates, particularly for those who are new to resistance training and might not have developed the necessary physical conditioning yet. Therefore, three to four times a week is an ideal starting point for high school athletes engaging in resistance training.