YOUTH SPORT - Give everything a go, says trainer

Debbie Mair is one of those rare beings in the world of sport - a triple international.
Not surprisingly, the School of Emerging Talent fitness trainer believes that sportspeople, no matter what age, should keep their options open.
"I'm a big believer that kids should try everything, even though these kids have specific sports that they want to take part in at the moment, two years, four years or even 10 years down the track, that may change and what I'm doing is training them how to train correctly," Mair said.
Mair is a believer that kids are kids. They might change their minds about their sport - or get injured _ so most of the work she has put them through this year has been in cross training.
"It's important that we don't put their bodies under too much pressure at the moment, they're training 10 hours a week with me which is a lot of training, plus they have their own trainers, plus they have their own coaches and play their tournaments - so they are busy kids," she said.
Cross training brings flexibility and that is the biggest weapon the kids have to prevent injury, Mair believes. The kids at SET have been a big challenge for her this year, but one she's relished.
"I've been a trainer since 1985 but this is the first time I've actually trained kids and I'm loving it. To be honest, I was a bit disillusioned with training just elite athletes, they focus on themselves totally but these kids have got other things to think about - their peers, their education, their sport, so it's been refreshing to work with them."
Mair has represented Scotland in soccer, yachting and kayaking, so knows what she's talking about when it comes to training and physical fitness - she also has three relevant degrees.
"If they learn how to train properly they can do whatever they want. A tennis player can become a cyclist, a yachtsman might later turn out to be a golfer ... you have only one life, live it, try whatever you can," she advises.
The trainer believes that the best thing about the new school is that it instills a sense of belief and direction in the talented young sportspeople.
"The kids have to someone to listen to them, to believe in them and if that happens they begin to believe in themselves and if they do that then they'll achieve."