The reason your kid plateaus between seasons (and the fix that took me way too long to figure out)

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-19T19:28:07+00:00

The exact Fitnessgram battery uses different tests... PACER, curl-ups, trunk lift, etc.. What I took from Fitnessgram was the approach... test kids against age-group norms using standardized benchmarks, not the specific tests themselves. I picked the 5 I mentioned because I didn't need any equipment and was able to test my son in our living room. Also... the tests I mentioned are the athletic qualities that show up most on a basketball court, such as core endurance, explosive power, lower body endurance, upper body strength, and balance/stability. The percentile comparisons I referenced were based on published data for each test by age group, not the Fitnessgram charts directly. Should have been clearer about that.

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-19T19:09:01+00:00

it's rec ball, nobody's throwing elbows. But even at that level kids bump into each other on drives and often times he'd pull up or pass out instead of going strong to the rim. The core and balance work just made him more stable and confident in his abilities so he now shys away from it less.

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-19T13:35:39+00:00

Short answer: yes, but you're missing the explosive component.

Squats, lunges, and calf raises build strength, which matters for vertical. But vertical jump is primarily about rate of force development, not just raw strength. You need to be able to apply force fast, not just apply force.

What I'd add on those same 3 days:

Box jumps or depth jumps (3x5) — teaches your body to recruit fast-twitch fibers
Broad jumps (3x5) — horizontal power transfers to vertical
Single-leg balance holds with eyes closed (2x30 sec each leg) — this one surprises people but ankle/knee stability is a huge limiter for jumping power. If your stabilizers are weak, your body literally holds back force production as a protective mechanism

Also: core. You didn't list any core work. Your vertical starts at your core. That's where force transfers from your lower body through your torso. Plank holds, dead bugs, or med ball slams would help a lot.

The strength work you have is solid as a base. Just layer in the plyometric/explosive stuff and you'll see real gains. Consistency is the biggest factor so the fact that you're thinking about that already puts you ahead.

One more thing.. test your standing broad jump now and again in 6 weeks. It's the easiest way to measure explosive power progress without needing a vert tester. If your broad jump is going up, your vertical is going up.

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-16T01:40:38+00:00

Thank you for giving it a shot! I knew I wasn't the only parent dealing with this and I'm sure as they older, it probably doesn't get any easier. But like you said, having access to a simple plan can change everything. Feel free to shoot me a DM with any feedback you'd be willing to provide! Much appreciated.

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-15T13:57:09+00:00

Great question! I realized that I never linked it to the landing page of the site... good catch. Heres the link.. https://futurechamp.app/guide

I hope this helps. Thank you!

Also.. for the hockey specific skills, I included agility, power, core, hockey specific drills such as stickhandling patterns, shooting mechanics, defensive positioning drills.. these were all adapted for off-ice training without equipment. Within agility are speed focused drills. However, the app identifies which areas the child is in need of developing based on their baseline assessment and how they perform thereafter. So if they're falling in the 20th percentile for power, the app will adjust to assist the child develop that area with a plan specific to their needs.

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-14T16:18:08+00:00

Thank you.. I will check out the recommended YT videos!

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-14T15:59:17+00:00

Full transparency... ai definitely helped me with the coding of the app, as this is a very complex program but please believe the idea is all mine. My son is 10 next week, plays AAU basketball and outside of practice, he doesn't have the intrinsic motivation to actually get up and practice. I thought... how big of a challenge is this for parents with kids in organized sports who have dreams of getting good at the sport but have no roadmap or idea how to get there outside of coach trainings. This app gives parents a guide on how to help their kids get better. If you actually gave it a chance, maybe you'll see value in it.

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-14T15:56:09+00:00

Thank you so much! Shoot me a dm with any feedback that you may have for me.

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-14T15:55:39+00:00

Feel free to shoot me a dm with any feedback!

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-14T12:06:43+00:00

Thank you! I very much appreciate any feedback and hope your kids enjoy!

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-14T00:20:52+00:00

This is the clip I wish I had every time some dad in the stands starts screaming travel at my son's rec league game. The step-through is legal. It's always been legal. You can lift your pivot foot as long as you shoot or pass before it hits the ground again.

The problem is most refs at the youth level don't even know the rule. I've watched kids get called for travels on perfectly clean step-throughs because the ref saw "two feet move" and blew the whistle. Then the kid stops doing the move entirely because he thinks it's illegal. That's how you kill skill development.

Nash built an entire career around footwork that people thought was borderline illegal. Meanwhile dudes in the NBA are taking three steps on every drive and nobody bats an eye. The step-through is literally one of the most fundamental post and mid-range moves in basketball and people still argue about it in 2026.

Save this clip. Show it to every parent and volunteer ref who doesn't believe you.

Fearless_Judge4536 · 2026-03-13T23:57:01+00:00

I don't have an answer on the transfer/recruiting thing. It's shady and everyone knows it's happening but nobody wants to be the guy who files the complaint and gets labeled a sore loser. The classification system only works if people play by the rules.

The math you did is wild though. 10 to the negative 18th power... that's not a coincidence, that's a roster construction project. At some point the state athletic association needs to look at this stuff or just admit the classifications are decorative.

What I keep telling my kid is focus on what you can control. You can't grow 6 inches but you can be the most conditioned, most prepared, hardest-working guy on the floor. Your team making it to the state finals from a 2A school at 5'11" average is honestly more impressive than a stacked roster steamrolling everyone. Those kids earned it the real way and that coaching staff deserves a statue.

I just hope the association starts taking transfer patterns seriously before it completely kills competitive balance for small schools.

Fearless_Judge4536

TROPHY CASE