Verbal cues are tools used by practitioners in developing a youth athlete’s motor skill abilities. External cues may optimize athletic performance and movement competencies in adults with trends for youth athletic populations following suit. However, maturation, training age, and cognitive age may interact with the efficacy of cues used. To better assist practitioners working with youth, this article reviews current empirical evidence on how youth populations respond or may respond to cues and offers practical applications.

This book excerpt is from Developing Agility and Quickness, Second Edition and goes over change of direction drills to help with speed and power development as well as an athletes cognitive and decision making skills.

Do you understand the youth athlete? In order to train youth athletes effectively, coaches must have an understanding of how to motivate youth athletes. This article will explain how to do just that, as well as how to use age-appropriate developmental cues for this population.

Integrating weight room cues that are more consistent with those used to reinforce safer tackling techniques on the field may help with athlete retention and buy-in, and prevent potential confusion.

Loren Landow, owner of Landow Performance in Denver, CO, shows some example progressions and cues for sprint mechanics.

Jim Kielbaso, MS, CSCS, gives a brief explanation of some simple coaching cues that can be used to teach athletes proper acceleration mechanics.

Understanding attentional styles can improve coaching effectiveness by allowing the coach to provide appropriate cues or methods for each athlete.

See demonstrations of weightlifting derivatives for improved athletic performance. Mike Conroy from USAW and Doug Berninger from the NSCA explain coaching cues and corrections so that your athletes can benefit from training in a safe and time-effective manner.

In this hands-on session from the 2018 NSCA’s Personal Training Conference, Brian Nguyen explains motor control with an emphasis on conscious breathing. Nguyen also demonstrates exercises and cues to improve overall stability, mobility, strength, and kinesthetic awareness for clients.

This article is an overview of the Turkish get-up movement, as well as cues and drills to help in this movement.