“When I evaluate varsity athletes, what I find is alarming,” says Michele Bond, M.S., an accomplished Kinesiologist and contributing author to “Fascia, The Tensional Network of the Human Body – 2nd Edition.” Bond, whose published research in the International Journal of Exercise Science has revolutionized understanding of movement patterns, reveals a critical gap in high school athletics that parents and coaches need to know about.
“Most varsity athletes can’t pass my six foundational benchmarks,” Bond explains, drawing from over two decades of experience in movement science. “We’re pushing these young athletes to perform complex skills before their bodies are biomechanically ready, and nobody’s checking for these crucial underlying issues.”
The problem runs deeper than just poor form or lack of strength. Through her proprietary assessment system, The Kinesiogram™, Bond has identified that many young athletes are building advanced sports skills on unstable movement foundations. It’s like constructing a skyscraper on shifting sand.
“Parents often tell me their child is fine because they’re young and resilient,” Bond shares. “But youth doesn’t make someone immune to biomechanical issues. In fact, developing poor movement patterns early can lead to problems that persist throughout their athletic career.”
Recent work with a high school basketball player illustrated this perfectly. Despite being one of the team’s top scorers, they struggled with recurring ankle injuries. Standard physical therapy hadn’t solved the problem. Through The Kinesiogram™ assessment, Bond identified fundamental movement pattern issues that no one had previously caught. These weren’t just affecting their ankles – they were compromising overall athletic performance.
The current focus in high school sports emphasizes skill development and game strategy, which Bond acknowledges are important. However, she argues that this approach misses something crucial: the foundational movement patterns that underpin all athletic performance.
“Think about it this way,” Bond explains. “Would you expect someone to perform an advanced piano piece before they’ve mastered basic scales? Yet we routinely ask young athletes to perform complex movements without ensuring they have the fundamental patterns in place.”
The consequences of this oversight can be serious. Beyond the immediate risk of injury, athletes develop compensatory patterns that can limit their long-term potential. Bond’s research shows that these compensations often become more problematic as athletes advance to higher levels of competition.
Through her work with high school athletes, Bond has identified several critical areas that typically need addressing:
Basic movement pattern quality
Core timing and stabilization
Fascial system conditioning
Movement symmetry and balance
Foundational strength development
Recovery and regeneration strategies
“The most frustrating part,” Bond notes, “is that these issues are entirely preventable with proper assessment and corrective work. But most programs jump straight to sport-specific training without checking if the athlete’s body can handle it.”
The solution isn’t complicated, but it requires a shift in approach. Bond advocates for mandatory movement assessments before athletes begin intensive training or competition. Through The Kinesiogram™ system, she can quickly identify areas needing attention and develop targeted corrective strategies.
“When we address these foundational issues first,” Bond explains, “not only do we reduce injury risk, but we also see dramatic improvements in performance. Athletes move more efficiently, recover faster, and perform better under pressure.”
Success stories from Bond’s practice demonstrate the impact of this approach. Multiple high school athletes who implemented her corrective strategies not only overcame chronic injuries but went on to achieve personal bests in their sports. The key was addressing the underlying movement patterns before pushing for advanced performance.
Want to ensure your young athlete builds their sports career on a solid foundation? Visit www.michelebond.com and sign up for the mailing list to learn about proper movement patterns and receive notification about the upcoming online training community launching in early 2025. Give your athlete the advantage of proper movement fundamentals.