Young Athletes and Resistance Bands At least once a week I am posed the question about how to train my son or daughter using bands and in most cases all I can envision is kids being put through a grueling workout using big bands that literally throw them around like a human sling [...] read more

High School Athletes Programming   By Wil Fleming   Recently I gave some thought to how many questions arise when putting together programming for high school athletes. Questions about general strength training practices, how to prioritize training goals, and what to do for speed and agility are all important, but the most basic of questions [...] read more

Transitioning to Power Cleans for High School Athletes in 4 simple Steps   All of my athletes become very efficient at performing the Olympic lifts from the hang position, and I love that. This comes from a lot of practice but also from a very specific and well refined process for teaching and progressing the [...] read more

    High School Athletes Strength Training     By Wil Fleming Nearly all high school athletes, with very few exceptions, need to develop explosive strength.     The instances in which the skill of explosive strength are used in sports are endless, but when used “explosiveness” is very apparent.   A linemen firing off [...] read more

  Coaches for high schools and teams need specialists… by Ryan Ketchum   The biggest obstacle that arises with youth fitness and sports performance coaches and business owners seems to be figuring out a way to gain the approval and access to high school or team coaches. Honestly, 99% of you are probably doing it [...] read more

    Foot Strike: The most obvious but most overlooked component of training young athletes.     About eight years ago, one of my high school high jumpers, Danielle, came running down to me at a track meet to tell me the news. As the coach of the long, triple and high jumps I was [...] read more

    by Ryan Ketchum   The more and more business coaching that I do for IYCA members, mastermind members, and franchisees the more I realize that our training philosophies and mindset sometimes get in the way of us running a great business.   I am prepared to be tarred and feathered, put in the stockades [...] read more

    by Wil Fleming   I remember vividly 3 years ago at this time Ryan and I were working our tails off to get ready for our grand opening that was only a couple weeks away. It was a really exciting time for us.   We were assembling all the equipment we ordered.   [...] read more

    by Wil Fleming   The other day a track coach that I really respect called me to discuss an athlete that we both work with and right away I knew he was excited. I could hear in his voice that he was just fired up. I asked him what was going on and [...] read more

  by Dave Gleason   Setting short, medium and long term goals is the foundation for any action plan.  Creating and attaining any goal is a process.   In the context of goal setting for young athletes, often a trainer or coach will direct the question of desired goal(s) by giving away the answers.  A [...] read more

    by Ryan Ketchum   The title of this blog might be a little misleading.  I am not going to talk about ground contacts, high impact training exercises, or anything related to movements or programming.  I want to discuss the impact that we have on the youth that we work with and the effect [...] read more

Long Term Training… Point #2 – M.O.L.D: The Key to Long-Term training and Athletic Performance   Taken straight from the IYCA’s Youth Fitness Specialist – Level 1 certification material, this acronym should be the calling card for every single professional and/or volunteer working with young athletes:   M = Movement Must Dominate   Every aspects [...] read more

Sport Specialization Vs LTAD   The IYCA has championed the notion that the long-term athletic development model, or LTAD, provides the greatest benefit to a developing athlete, in both physical and psychological aspects, over time.    Contrary to ever-popular and growing model of early sport specialization, the LTAD model is intended to optimize performance slowly [...] read more

Use as a template for the Youth Fitness Summer Camps you’re hosting this year:     News Release For Immediate Release Contact – YOUR NAME   NAME OF BUSINESS Hosts Summer Speed Program for Local Young Athletes Training System Consider One of the Best in the World   DATE – Young athletes in the NAME [...] read more

It’s important for me to hear what you have to say about this topic on young athletes…  Read this short (but hopefully powerful) ‘Part 1′ and then chime in to let me know what you think…   read more

Do you involve Parents in your young athletes training programs?   Should you?   Does long-term success INCREASE when you do?   Why and How you can involve Parents in your facility or Young Athletes training programs to ensure success…     Speaking Of Long Term Success, Look At This:   –> http://CompleteAthleteDevelopment.com read more

Youth Speed Training Expert Opinions Coach Robert Dos Remedios is considered one of the best Strength Coaches in College sports.   And he agrees.   So does Sue Falsone.   Sue is the former Head Physical Therapist for the Los Angeles Dodgers and current Director of Physical Therapy for the vaunted ‘Athletes Performance’ facility in [...] read more

Group One, Group Two & Group Three youth sports training classifications… But what else?   Here’s Part 2:   How efficiently an athlete learns the technical skills of a sport, strength training exercise or movement is determined by several variables -   Age – Complex skills are often understood and comprehended better by more mature [...] read more

I found this archived article and wanted desperately to bring it to your attention.   There is SO MUCH MORE to youth sports training than just selecting some exercises and counting reps… ‘Part 1′:   Demonstrating good technique from a sporting perspective involves applying optimal movement ability in order to accomplish or solve a particular [...] read more

Here are your IYCA updates to www.IYCAMembers.com for the week of February 7, 2011:   (1) The Athletic Performance Matrix   Last week, I gave you an incredible look at Athletic Development from New Zealand through the sample programming of IYCA Member and world-class Coach, Gareth Ashton.   This week, I want you to see [...] read more