Texans strength and conditioning coach Dan Riley has compiled a ...

We do not test our players on any exercise, to include the bench press. The bench
press is one of six different pushing planes used in our strength program. Our
players perform the bench-press with a variety of different equipment to include a
barbell, dumbbells, and a variety of different machines.
Excluding exercises for the neck and muscles surrounding the shoulder capsule, the
bench-press in no more important than any other exercise our players perform.
Some players possess the genetic predisposition to perform well on the bench press
and some don’t. For example, players with shorter arms and a thicker rib cage have
a distinct leverage advantage. They will bench press more weight.
A player with longer arms has a distinct leverage disadvantage when bench-pressing
a weight. He is forced to move a weight through a greater range of motion. If both
players bench-press the same amount of weight the player with longer arms will
perform more inch pounds of worker than his teammate with shorter arms.
A player with longer arms has a distinct leverage disadvantage when lifting a weight.
However on the field his longer arms become a distinct advantage when performing
position specific tasks.
The bench-press is simply one of many productive exercises our players perform.
Too much emphasis is placed upon this exercise. We tell our players when someone
asks them how much can they bench press, they should politely respond by saying,
“I don’t know but I can tell you how much weight I use for my rotator cuff, my rear
delt, and my neck.”
At what age should I start my son/daughter lifting weights
I have two sons. Both were successful high school and college athletes. I had them
both wait until they were fourteen years old to begin any structured weight program.
I also had a little advantage over most parents because I personally supervised their
training. I didn’t have to rely upon someone else to train my children.
Understand that properly performed strength training isn’t bad for anyone at any
age. It is simply not something younger children will enjoy. Youngsters soon realize
lifting weights isn’t any fun. It is tedious hard work. It’s hard enough to get adults
started and even more difficult to get them to sustain for any length of time.
The hormonal balance in young children is too low to stimulate significant muscular
changes. They will work very hard yet stimulate little change in body composition
and strength. Starting your children too early may be the reason they refuse to
participate when they are older and capable of more meaningful gains.
Unfortunately childhood obesity is currently at the epidemic level in our country.
Technology has allowed us to live a physically inactive lifestyle. Parents and parents
alone must assume full responsibility for fat children.
Rather than torture your kids with a rigorous strength program, encourage more funfilled
activities. Lifting weights isn’t the answer for adolescents. Instead of personal
trainers and tedious weight sessions, get them off the couch and away from the
television and video games.