Thread: My 11-year-old son first time deadlifting

Andrew has been weightlifting for a year-and-a-half. Yesterday after doing snatches and clean & jerk, I decided to teach him how to DL for the first time.

At a bodyweight of 108-lbs, I expected him to hit at least 110-lbs.

So we kept going, and going, and going, because he kept telling me "it's light, dad".

So he went up to 155-lbs. At which point I stopped him because this was his first time I was afraid he'd get hurt. He said the RPE was around 5. He could have kept going.

You can see some of the habits he developed as a weightlifter while doing deadlifts - i.e. he would shrug on top of the pull and get on his toes. LOL. So I told him to simply stand up feet flat and shoulder neutral.

I can see him compete as both a weightlifter and powerlifter.

Originally Posted by NorwichGrad

I can see him compete as both a weightlifter and powerlifter.

Powerlifters don't drop the bar at lockout.

But seriously that is awesome to see. Strong kid.

I noticed he's wearing heeled squat shoes while deadlifting. Do you do the same? Is that recommended? I either wear no shoes at all or flat shoes.

Originally Posted by NorwichGrad

Andrew has been weightlifting for a year-and-a-half. Yesterday after doing snatches and clean & jerk, I decided to teach him how to DL for the first time.

At a bodyweight of 108-lbs, I expected him to hit at least 110-lbs.

So we kept going, and going, and going, because he kept telling me "it's light, dad".

So he went up to 155-lbs. At which point I stopped him because this was his first time I was afraid he'd get hurt. He said the RPE was around 5. He could have kept going.

You can see some of the habits he developed as a weightlifter while doing deadlifts - i.e. he would shrug on top of the pull and get on his toes. LOL. So I told him to simply stand up feet flat and shoulder neutral.

I can see him compete as both a weightlifter and powerlifter.

That's awesome man. Even has the sassy chuck the bar. Could have been the shoes that were pushing him onto his toes.

Originally Posted by -=FLEX=-

Powerlifters don't drop the bar at lockout.

But seriously that is awesome to see. Strong kid.

I noticed he's wearing heeled squat shoes while deadlifting. Do you do the same? Is that recommended? I either wear no shoes at all or flat shoes.

Thank you.

I LOL'd at your first sentence. He was so used to dumping bars as a weightlfiter, so I just let him.

His heeled shoes are actually weightlifting shoes. The raised heels make it easy to get into the ATG position in both the snatch and cleans.

Come to think of it, I wasn't even paying attention to his foot apparel. But next time we DL I will have him wear socks only.

Originally Posted by ECGordyn

That's awesome man. Even has the sassy chuck the bar. Could have been the shoes that were pushing him onto his toes.

Good point! Usually on the cleans, the lifter gets on the toes during the second pull. The habit carried over. Next time we will try flat feet with socks only.

Great stuff!!