Juniors
Philosophy
Many junior golf programs are developed with an adult mindset. At the Academy at Trump National we understand what kids want and how to make them excel at their own pace. All juniors are different physically and mentally, which means we cannot teach kids typical adult routines. Golf must be taught in a specific manner which allows kids to express themselves through physical motion. For a junior to reach their true potential they must first learn basic movement skills, which translate into sports-specific-skills. The order of this process is vital; kids who learn to focus solely on the golf swing will become one-dimensional.
Why do kids want to play sports?
· Fun, friends, feels good
· Fit in – feel like they belong
· To do something they are good at
Why do kids not want to play sports?
· Not fun, forced to play, teasing
· They do not excel. They never win
· Fear of failure, too much pressure
· Placed in competition too soon
Long Term Athletic Development
The Long Term Athletic Development approach focuses on having kids perform age-appropriate skill acquisition drills to maximize athletic performance. What this means is kids learn the proper skills geared towards their personal athletic development. Learning a motor skill does not happen immediately. For example, becoming a great pianist happens over a period of time; golf is no different.
Fundamental Movement Skills
The body must first learn simple basic movements before it can take on the task of sport specific movements. Our program consists of analyzing each junior on the following movements:
Locomotive Skills
· Running, Jumping, Dodging, Skipping, Hopping, Sprinting
Stability Skills
· Agility, Balance, Coordination, Speed, Change of Direction, Disassociation
Object Control Skills
· Throw, Kick, Strike, Catch, Dribble, Dodge
Awareness
· Spatial Awareness, Kinesthetic Awareness, Body Awareness, Rules
Fundamental Sports Skills
A transitional phase occurs at an early age, after fundamental movement skills have been learned. From here we can combine the fundamental movement skills with fundamental sports skills. The following is a list of golf skills rehearsed in our program:
Putting
· Grip, Stance, Ball Position, Alignment
· Green Reading
· Speed Control & Line
Chipping
· Grip, Stance, Ball Position, Alignment
· Length of Stroke
· Acceleration
Full Swing
· Grip, Stance, Ball Position, Alignment
· Posture & Swing Mechanics
Course Management
· Club Selection
· Risk-Reward
· Etiquette
Grading Structure
Kids will be evaluated on 7 building blocks or proficiencies and depending on how they perform; they will receive a specific hat color. Each color represents a different skill level, similar to the belt system in karate. The seven building blocks that will be tested include:
1) Golf Swing Technical Skills
2) Shot Making Skills
3) Course Management/Playing Skills and Performance Statistics
4) Object Control FMS
5) Locomotion FMS
6) Physical Fitness Proficiency
7) Rules, Etiquette, History, Motion Capture
Instructors have the power to screen kids on a regular basis or whenever they feel the child is ready to graduate to the next skill set and hat color.
Junior Programs
Long Term Athletic Development:
This extensive program runs all year. There is no exact start date; juniors can begin at any point in time they choose!
TNGC Junior Summer Camp:
This is a three month program running June through August
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