I am a gymnastics coach, and we've just recently started a trampoline team. I've been looking for some good conditioning programs for trampoline.
It seems to me that kettlebell workouts should be extremely effective in building strength that would be useful to trampolinists; from what I can tell, basic kettlebell swings appear to hit most of the muscles that I'd want trampolinists to develop. However, having very little experience coaching trampoline and zero experience training with kettlebells, I could use some advice.
First, can young athletes (say, 8-12) safely condition with kettlebells, assuming they are not too heavy?
Second, am I correct in my assumption that kettlebell swings are a good supplement to trampoline training?
Third, if the answer to the above two questions is "yes," what's a good weight to start them at?
Fourth, where can I learn more about proper form and execution on kettlebell exercises? I don't expect to have my athletes doing anything particularly advanced or intense (at least not yet); what I'm looking for is basic exercises that they can do safely and easily, but which will build up strength in the core and lower body.