About CrossFit Kids
What is CrossFit Kids?
CrossFit Kids is not simply a scaled down version of CrossFit, it is entirely absolutely CrossFit geared and designed for a special population and the specific developmental needs of that population. (neurological, cognitive, motor)
Written by Cyndi Rodi
Copyright CrossFit Kids 2007, 2008
Functional exercise replicates functional movement, that is, those movements we use to get average things done in our daily lives. Standing from a seated position, placing things overhead, pulling ourselves up, throwing, running, picking things up-these are all functional movements. A functional fitness regimen, then, would be one that utilizes functional exercises to address and enhance our ability to successfully complete these types of everyday tasks. Functional exercise allows our bodies to perform the way in which they were engineered. Squats, push ups, pull ups, deadlifts, box jumps, broad jumps, running-these are but a few of the tools in the CrossFit arsenal. Pared down gyms equipped with boxes and weights, D-balls and medicine balls, ropes and monkey bars are the fertile grounds from which functional fitness is born.
Our goal at CrossFit Kids is to educate and enthuse children and teens about functional fitness. We believe these will be the foundational experiences our children require to embark on lifelong journeys of wellness which will enable them to effectively perform simple, yet necessary tasks well into their adult years. Our dream is to foster a generation of healthy, fit individuals who require limited assistance and enjoy freedom of movement and activity throughout their life spans. To that end, we design each of our workouts with the varied modalities that will increase fitness levels across a broad spectrum of performance and health considerations. Always functional, never boring, CrossFit Kids resolves the issues of our sedentary, noxious lifestyles. Working the body according to the way it was designed, we are training a generation to take responsibility for their health via the path of least resistance.
General Guidelines
CrossFit Kids is created as a tool for parents, teachers and Coaches to use with their kids. We expect that kids will look at the site, be excited and motivated by the videos and pictures, but that a parent, teacher or Coach will be helping to monitor and guide them through the workouts.
It is important to keep in mind that just like CrossFit, sometimes a workout will hit your strengths and you can do it as Rx’d, other times it hits your weaknesses and you have to scale or modify. For the kids, this means that even though on some days they are Big Dawgs another day they may be in The Pack or on The Porch.
Descriptions follow for each group that may be posted, Big Dawgs, Porch, Packmembers, Puppies and Buttercups.
Big Dawgs
Intended for Young Teens who have been doing CrossFit Kids regularly and have mastered the movements. Usually one to two years experience with CrossFit Kids.
The Porch
Intended for Young Teens who find that the Pack workout would be too easy,
but cannot quite handle the weight and/or reps of the Big Dawg workout.
Generally 10-12 year olds with a year or more experience with CrossFit Kids workouts.
Pack Members
Intended for 9- 11 year olds who have been doing CrossFit regulary and in the first year of Crossfitting, or young teens who have been deconditioned.
Puppies
Intended for ages 5-8, any advanced beginners during the first 6-12 months of CrossFitting, or older kids who are deconditioned.
Buttercups
Intended for kids ages 4-6, beginners during the first 6 months, or any extremely deconditioned kids. This group can also be used as an introduction to the movements and for younger kids who want to follow along with an older sibling.
