Youth (8 Years Old) Training Plans

Start with finding a local kids tri.  Then have him do something every few days whether it is run, swim or bike.  Try to find a local coach that works with kids and get some info from them.

Keep it light, keep it easy, keep it fun.  I am helping coach my kids x-country team and after a specific running workout we have them all play different games that involve sprinting and turning while having fun at the same time.  That is the kids favorite part.

My daughter did a couple sprints when she was 11.

My advice is to make it fun and let the child choose what they want to do. Ideally have them do each sport 2x a week.  Make a chart or something that makes it fun for them. If you can arrange it to ride or run with them all the better. I would often ride with my daughter for 30-45 minutes then drop her off at home and go for a training ride..great warm up for me.

8 year old I'd look for kids race and see what is around. If your 8 year old is active kid they probably could do it tomorrow. Find the distances that the race will be.

Practicing transitions was fun and important. I would have my kids set up T1 take off their shoes, get their feet wet then run around a tree 10 times (gets them dizzy and makes it harder) then do T1, ride their bike a short distance come back and do T2 then go run a little. Transitions is what makes the biggest difference in time for kids...and this is something foreign to them.

My son did one when 2 years ago when he was 7.  He was already on the Y swim team so all we did was go for rides up to 10 miles or so.  Running we didn't really do much, he ran down the street for a 1/4mi or so and came back for a couple of times.  I did show him how to run-walk to cover some distance if he had to and he did at the race.  He enjoyed it very much.

I never found anything specific for a kids TP at the time. Just encourage him on his weaknesses and teach him about steady pacing. 

My son's been asking to do another one and my 7 YO daughter wants to do one.  We have one picked out next summer at the Musselman.  Kids tri is at 2pm after the HIM in the morning.  I'm looking forward to doing the HIM and watching them have a great time afterwards.

^^ Kathy has a really good point above on the transistions.  At my son's the parents were allowed to assist in the transition after the swim.  We even put lock laces on my son's sneakers, it a cool factor too you know!

The key is just to ensure that it is fun; the training plan should be simple and look something like this:

• Swim - when and for how long they want
• Bike - when and for how long they want
• Run - when and for how long they want

Our kids races (Kids of Steel - I think the US system is similar) are designed more to introduce youth to the sport; for 8yo's the distances are 100m/5km/1km.

Here is a great resource (Long Term Athlete Development) that looks at an athlete's progression in triathlon.

Shane