September 27, 2024Gym Design

Stronger Wellness Sport-Specific Strength Programmes to Support School Sport and the Health of the Nations Youth

Stronger Wellness, the fitness equipment manufacturer and creator of wellness spaces, is partnering with the UK’s sports schools to launch sport-specific and foundational strength programmes to students aged 11 to 18. The joint aim is to support school sport and introduce students to the benefits of developing physical literacy and strength training at a key stage in their lives.

As the talent level across UK school sports rises, so does the need for schools to support students with their athletic development. However, it remains a challenge for many schools to timetable conditioning work, focused on building strength and functional resilience, that can be delivered in the gym. Additionally, it is essential to safeguard and develop the health and wellbeing of young people while promoting physical performance, but an expert approach to physical development achieves both.

Research has shown that children can improve strength by up to 50% after just 8 to 12 weeks of a well-designed strength training programme.

However, they need to continue to train at least twice per week to maintain the benefits, a frequency which is often tricky for schools to accommodate even in some of the top-ranked private schools. As such, students commonly resort to training outside of school hours on borrowed training programmes where misguided training plans can lead to lower back injuries, misuse of equipment, inappropriate weight, improper technique, and of course lack of qualified adult supervision. In the worst cases, this can be a compromise to their growth and development.

So, with the input of Heads of Sport from across the country, Stronger Wellness has designed a series of fitness equipment packages that can be installed into underutilised spaces in school facilities, opening new spaces to students wanting to learn more about strength training or to pursue their sporting endeavours.

The equipment has been specifically selected to meet the needs of the students and the schools’ representative sports. Ready-made programming, which focuses on the schools’ main games, like football, rugby or cricket, and on the fundamentals of strength, accompany the equipment fit out.

Stronger Wellness have collaborated with long-standing partner CAWS, a health and fitness content company, to design strength programmes for all major school sports for people in this age range. CAWS Director, Dr Col Robertson, has more than 30 years of experience as a certified strength coach in elite level sport, sports medicine, exercise rehabilitation and performance. Together with Stronger Wellness, CAWS has produced a series of programmes that develop the child, enhance their strength and fitness, and position them for continued progress and success.

Steve Shaw, Director at Stronger Wellness, said: “We are so excited about our new schools’ packages solution. Having spoken with schools about the complications of timetabling, funding, availability, staff hours and programming, we’re really hoping that by being creative with available space on school campus, we can create more sporting and wellness opportunities for young students. Not only students with sporting promise, but those who can benefit from understanding the basics of strength training from a young age, particularly females who we know historically, engage far less frequently and consistently in strength type training, and yet are set to benefit most.

“Our early school partners have been a pleasure to work so closely with and get to know, and I am really proud that together we have been able to create truly bespoke spaces, with all the programming, care and attention needed for students to reap the benefits right away.”

Projects are already underway across parts of the UK with select schools for the new school year, and Stronger Wellness are looking to explore more opportunities to add value to schools who want to broaden their strength and conditioning offering to meet the needs of their student athletes – and any student looking to try strength training for the first time.

For details, or to learn how Stronger may be able to help your student sport and exercise programmes message schools@strongerwellness.com.

About Stronger Wellness

Benefitting from 25 years of experience within the Fitness Industry, Stronger Wellness specializes in crafting premium and highly functional Training Spaces throughout the UK. Our comprehensive services encompass Consultancy, Gym Design, Commercial Gym Flooring, and premium Gym Equipment. Partnering with leading global brands, we offer the most cutting-edge, award-winning products to create innovative and exceptional fitness environments.