Muscle youth need help
Date: 15-11-2006
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamBarbados |
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Schoolboys and girls are flexing and shaping up for the Sunshine Cereal Annual Schoolboy Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships slated for the Lester Vaughan Secondary School next Friday at 4 p.m.
Adrian Donovan, acting assistant director of sports at the National Sports Council, says he is pleased with the number of competitors and schools involved, and also the eagerness they expressed in getting on stage to show the progress they have made.
"But what concerns me is that after these boys and girls leave school, too many of them don't continue in the sport. They lose interest and drop out. Bodybuilding is not what it used to be in the 1970s and 1980s, in terms of the number of competitors, so we need to find a way to keep these young ones involved in the sport when they leave school," Donovan said.
He suggested gyms could play a major role.
"I think there are about 12 gyms in Barbados with qualified personnel and good facilities. Each gym can take one or two from the schoolboy programme under its wing and give them individual attention. These are young people who need guidance on training and nutrition to make the best gains."
Donavan also pointed out other challenges in getting these youngsters prepared for the contest. "The National Sports Council has limited resources. There is only one full-time coach, and some schools don't have a gym. We try to accommodate those schoolchildren without a school gym at the National Stadium, which has limited space. Gyms around the country can also assist in this situation," he said.
"We are getting good numbers in the competition, but we can't afford to lose them. We have them from as young as six to 21. It is good to get them on stage at a young age, and with concerns about young people's poor eating habits and lack of exercise, this programme can go a long way in educating them on a healthy lifestyle."
The sports official also suggested a return of gym championships, which should include schoolboys and girls from schools of its choice, or from the gym's community.
This year's schoolboy and fitness contest will see 12 senior boys, 14 body fitness girls, two junior fitness girls and about ten tiny tots (seven-to-eight age group) from a number of secondary and primary schools.
