💪Train The Weak Side

There’s a moment in practice most people miss.

A kid lines up for a drill they’ve done a hundred times. When it starts on their preferred side, everything looks smooth. When it flips, the movement changes. Shorter step. Less control. A little rush.

Nobody says anything because the rep still counts.

That’s usually how weak sides survive. They’re not bad enough to stop play. They’re just good enough to get ignored.

Over time, that adds up.

🧠 The Insight
Kelly Starrett doesn’t talk much about “weak sides” as a concept. He talks about positions. About symmetry. About how the body will always find a way to get the job done, even if the way it chooses isn’t ideal.

Especially in young athletes.

Kids don’t stop when something feels off. They adjust. They compensate. They lean harder into what works.

The body keeps score, even when no one else does.

🏈 The Story
Watch warmups closely sometime.

Not the drill itself. The in-between moments.

When kids jog back to the line, notice which leg they shake out. When they’re waiting their turn, notice how they stand. One hip dumped. One foot always forward.

You’ll see it again when they’re tired. Movements that were fine early start to look uneven. Same effort, different control.

Nothing is “wrong.” But nothing is quite even either.

Most seasons, that’s as far as it goes. No injury. No missed games. Just a body learning habits it didn’t need to learn.

🔄 The Shift
Strong sides get praised because they look good.

Weak sides feel awkward, so they get skipped.

But awkward is information.

It tells you where control breaks down. Where balance is missing. Where the body is quietly asking for attention before it’s forced to demand it.

Training the weak side isn’t about fixing anything. It’s about not ignoring the message.

🎯 The Takeaway
The goal isn’t equal strength.

It’s equal ownership.

An athlete who can move well on both sides doesn’t rely on one pattern to save them when they’re tired, rushed, or under pressure.

That’s what keeps them playing.

👊 Put It Into Practice
Pick one drill this week and make athletes start on their non-dominant side.

That’s it.

Don’t overcoach it.
Don’t rush them through it.
Let it feel a little clumsy.

Add one extra rep on that side and move on.

🏆 The Locker Room
Strong sides win reps.

Balanced bodies win seasons.

The work that doesn’t look impressive is usually the work that matters most.

❤️ The Parents’ Bleachers
Watch how your child moves when no one is correcting them.

Which foot do they always lead with?
Which side do they avoid when they’re tired?

You don’t need to point it out. Just notice it.

Durability is built quietly, long before anyone talks about injuries.

🔥 BE THE CATALYST
This week, don’t add more work.

Just add one rep to the side that usually gets skipped.

That small choice compounds faster than you think.