I've seen a lot of young lifters come through my team's gym.... usually pushed by mom or dad and usually because pee wee football is starting around that age....
1st off.... I thought that her form was solid, not sure what you guys are watching. Her knees are coming in a little but she keeps her head and chest up and sits back good. Never looked out of control which is impressive as hell at that age. Most kids are so loose under the bar that they can't control their descent at all.... she looked in control from the walk out through the rack.
2nd off... I agree with the above poster who mentioned how other sports start young too. I just benched with a 20 year old gymnast who has had 4 shoulder surgeries and still coaches and competes, she wouldn't trade her 16 years in her sport for healthy shoulders if she could. Same goes for 100's of olympic athletes from around the world. If it were my child I would probably rather see them doing reps of something lighter until puberty, but if this is what she wanted I'd support it. How many other girls can go in to puberty ( and all the bullshit of middle school etc...) with the confidence that lifting at that level brings? Here is a girl with enough self esteem not to get knocked up by the first guy who talks nice to her. I'm sure she wouldn't trade her world record for all the healthy knees in the world even if she does mess them up.
3rd off.... did you see the focus on that kids face?!?!?! She's a bad ass. That was awesome!
I think there is one particularly good point in here that you don't even directly say. Squatting for powerlifting is different than squatting for bodybuilding. So a powerlifter can look at a squat and like it, and bodybuilders can look at the same squat a rage about the terrible form. Independent of the age of the lifter.
And there are a lot more good points in here that you do make directly. I agree that her form was pretty good. Her knees may still come in a little, but she improved that a lot by bringing her stance out some.
She really loves lifting. She is naturally very strong. She is naturally athletic generally, but particulray strong. She is very active in karate. And likes most sports; the latest she is getting into is basketball. My wife and I are very careful about her workouts and how she lifts; her safety and health always come first. And that she be in a range of physical activities. She knows, and is reminded contantly, that she can stop lifting whenever she wants., and that we love her whether she lifts or not.
As to her focus and intensity, yes that is definitely something she has done a great job learning and is still learning. Off the platform, she is really a very sweet, even shy, girl.
farm work is necessary part of life, squating 205# at nine years isnt.
