Posted by: Daniel () on Thu Jul 19 07:32:13 2001

Hi,
> > > I am 14 years old and I am very small. Even though I'm small, I hit nice line drives and hard hits, but I have hardley any power. I do have a membership to a gym, and am going to start working out more. I also have grown a couple of inches over the past 2 or 3 months. I am still only about 5'1 or 5'2 though. My question is: Will I still continue to grow and maybe grow a little more rapidly or will I stop? I haven't really hit my big growth spurt yet and I'm thinking this might be it. I hope I am bigger and stronger by the beginning of high school season so I can hit for more power. Anyone's "anaylisis" will be appreciated.
> >
> > kevin...i don't know if i can be much help....i don't know much about growth spurts (how predictable they might be)......and by the way, i didn't mean to suggest that small players can not have power....i only meant that it sometimes could be a contributing factor....my best advice would be what i sugested to sam: send jack a video of your swing and have him analyze it.......sorry i can't be of much help.....grc....>>>>>>>>>>Son I see many young kids com into h.s. as freshman skinny,intimidated and weak,yet with hard work by your senior year I'm sure you will be much stronger,put on some weight more confidence and agility.Cannot promise you will be a Mark Mcgwire.
I would caution against anyone that is 14 and in a growth spurt to think much about working out in a gym, if that means weight training. Weight and strength training, while being a great way to become better at every sport, must be done at the right time. Doing it when the long bones of the body are actively growing is a good way to fracture the cartilage/bone junction where all the growth is occurring. Try to learn good mechanics, throw and swing a lot, have fun - and wait to hit the gym hard until you're a bit older and not growing so quickly.