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Archive for “IYCA In The News” Category

IYCA Member Spotlight: Wil Fleming

Posted on: January 9th, 2014 by IYCA 1 Comment

Wil fleming

Wil Fleming is the Owner of Force Fitness and Performance and Athletic Revolution Bloomington, in Bloomington, IN.  Force Fitness opened just over 3 years ago and is already one of the most successful training facilities in the Midwest with nearly 400  clients, 25 athletes earning Division I scholarships and nearly 45 athletes moving on to compete at the NCAA level in Division I, II, III.

In addition to being a business owner, Wil was one of the authors of the IYCA’s Essentials of High School  Strength and Conditioning, along with other noted performance experts Eric Cressey, Mike Robertson, and Dr. Toby Brooks.  Wil is also the author of the Olympic Lifting instructor Course from the IYCA, in which he details his progressions for teaching the Olympic lifts to athletes of all levels.

Wil earned a bachelors of science from Indiana University in Nutrition Science. He is a  Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the NSCA, a Youth Performance  Specialist from the IYCA, and a level 1 performance coach from USA weightlifting.

Prior to being a business owner, he was an Olympic Trials participant, a division 1 track and field coach at Indiana University, an all-American athlete, and the school record  holder at Indiana University as a hammer thrower. Wil was a resident athlete at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for Olympic weightlifting after winning the Jr. National Championship in the same sport.


1. What’s your background?

My background was that of competitive athletics. I started as a young, not so fast and strong athlete that discovered training was the great equalizer. Starting a strength and conditioning program allowed me to end up with a college scholarship and opportunities I could never dream of as a kid. 

This experience made me know that I wanted to help young athletes in the same way, to give them the opportunities to have doors open for them. Whether that meant a college scholarship, or lifelong friendships with teammates they might otherwise have not had. 

This led me to open Force Fitness and Performance/Athletic Revolution Bloomington just over 5 years ago with my business partner Ryan Ketchum. 

2. What do you do in your career today?

My career is a little different than it was 5 years ago. When we started I was on the floor training 14-16 hours 5-6 days per week. Now I can be a little more choosy about my schedule and train 20 hours per week or so. I spend the remainder of my time writing about training athletes at my website (www.wilfleming.com). In addition I contribute to the IYCA regularly in the form of blog posts and helping to develop some of the continuing education products that the IYCA is known for as part of their board of experts. 

3. What does the IYCA mean to you or how has the IYCA impacted you?

Without my affiliation with the IYCA, I definitely would not be in the place I am today. Every influential person I have met in fitness can be in some way traced to the interactions I have had with the IYCA. The guys in charge are always there to answer my questions or connect me to someone that can. 

4. Why you created / contributed to your IYCA products and who they are for.

I was honored to be a part of so many cool products through the IYCA. From the High School Strength and Conditioning Certification to the Olympic lift certification and Complete Athletic development there is one common vision: To help create better fitness professionals that are capable of impacting young athletes. While I have been able to open doors for a lot of young athletes, it is mind blowing to think of the number of athletes impacted by the coaches who have used and applied the principles in the IYCA products to which I have contributed. 

 

IYCA Member Spotlight: Mike Robertson

Posted on: November 4th, 2013 by IYCA No Comments

Mike-Robertson-headshot
Mike Robertson is the President of Robertson Training Systems and the co-owner of Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training (I-FAST) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mike has made a name for himself as one of the premier performance coaches in the world, helping clients and athletes from all walks of life achieve their physique and sports performance goals.

 

Q: What’s your background?

A: I’ve been in the performance enhancement/physical preparation field for 14 years now. In that time I’ve done a bit of everything – I was an assistant D-1 strength and conditioning coach, a rehab practitioner, a 1-on-1 personal trainer, and a semi-private coach /business owner.

Basically, I’ve done a bit of everything over the years!

 

Q: What do you do in your career today?

A: Today I own Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training, which has been named one of America’s Top 10 Gyms by Men’s Health magazine two times. 

At IFAST we offer both small group/semi-private training (groups of 2-4 at a time), as well as large group training which we call Team Training. 

I, personally, work almost exclusively with professional and elite athletes at this point in my career. A short list of my clients includes Roy Hibbert from the Indiana Pacers, Danny O’Rourke from the Columbus Crew, Lori Lindsey (formerly of the US Women’s National team), and a handful of blue-chip prospects who are waiting for their chance to make it big.

 

Q: What does the IYCA mean to you or how has the IYCA impacted you?

A: Even though I’m training mostly professional athletes now, the IYCA and young athletes are what originally drew me to this industry.

I was a young kid who loved sports, but never really new how to use physical preparation in the right capacity to give myself the best chance for success. I was always a pretty good athlete, but never the best. And I always knew that if I could make myself bigger, faster, stronger, etc., that I could be a bigger contributor on the court.

So that has always been my passion – to help athletes get more out of their own bodies via improved movement and training. I love work with kids especially because they are so malleable, and the tools you can teach them via training are things that they will take with them for a lifetime.

 

Q: Why you created / contributed to your IYCA products and who they are for.

A: I contributed to CAD 2.0 and the HSCC product, because as rewarding as it is to coach young athletes, I love coaching the coaches as well. I like to think of this as growing my web of influence.

If I train one kid, that’s one kid I made better. But if I work with one coach, that coach has an influence over all of his athletes as well. 

So instead of just the one I helped, I could help 10, 50, or 100 athletes by helping one coach. That’s powerful.

At the end of the day, my goal always has been (and always will be) to make the people around me better. I know that if I do that, I know that money, clients and happiness will never been an issue.

 

IYCA Member Spotlight: Dr. Toby Brooks

Posted on: October 13th, 2013 by IYCA No Comments

 

toby-brooksDr. Toby Brooks serves at the Director of Research and Education for the IYCA.
Brooks is also currently an Assistant Professor in the Master of Athletic Training Program at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock, TX.

What’s your background?
PhD & MS in Physical Education from University of Arizona, BS in Athletic Training from Southern Illinois University. 10+ years experience in athletic training & strength and conditioning at professional, collegiate, and high school levels. Owned and operated sports performance business in Southern Illinois for three years prior to accepting academic position at Texas Tech. Three year starter in basketball in high school with a brief stint in college. Coached youth sports in soccer, baseball, softball, and basketball over the past 15 years.

What do you do in your career today?
I serve as clinical coordinator for the Masters of Athletic Training Program at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Director of Research and Education for the IYCA.

What does the IYCA mean to you or how has the IYCA impacted you?
I became involved in the IYCA within its first year of existence. As an athletic trainer, I see the impact of improper and/or overly aggressive training on young athletes all the time. I was convinced the IYCA was an up and coming professional organization that aligned with my professional philosophies while also being accessible, meaning its “newness” afforded me a way of making an impact right away without all the political posturing one might expect in organizations that have been around a while.

Why you created / contributed to your IYCA products and who they are for.

I have been involved in every IYCA product with the exception of the very first Level 1 YCS (now revised and relaunced as the Level 1 YFS 1 that I wrote with the contribution of Dr. David Stodden). It is my passion to see to it that any parent or professional who cares enough to assume the role of “coach” be adequately equipped to serve most effectively in that position. A willing heart is the first critical step. A prepared mind should follow closely behind. It is my hope that any IYCA product I assist in creating can reinforce the heart and help activate the mind.

 

Posted on: August 1st, 2011 by IYCA No Comments

 

The IYCA Inks Book Deal with Celebrity Press

 

IYCA Youth Fitness Specialists to be Featured

 

Louisville, KY- This past July, hundreds of Youth Fitness Specialists, certified by the International Youth Conditioning Association, gathered for two days in the Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY, to learn about and share their passion for youth fitness training.

 

What they also got was the opportunity of a lifetime, to be featured in a book, The Definitive Guide to Youth Athletic Strength, Conditioning and Performance.

 

The IYCA teamed up with publishing company Celebrity Press, known for producing best-selling authors in many industries, and offered its members the opportunity to apply for a select number of openings. Each qualified applicant would submit a chapter on his or her field of expertise on the subject of youth fitness training.

 

Pat Rigsby, who serves as CEO of the IYCA, is excited for the expected release of the book in 2012. "This book represents the entire IYCA organization at large, and many qualified youth coaches and fitness professionals have the chance to get recognition for the great work that they do."

 

 

—-

 

The International Youth Conditioning Association is the premier international authority with respect to athletic development and youth participant-based conditioning. The IYCA is a certification-based outfit offering the finest educational certificate programs in the realm of youth athletic development and fitness. The IYCA mission is to fulfill its duty as the leaders of the youth fitness and sport training industry and help reform the quality and care we are providing for our youth.

 

 

IYCA Autism Expert Profiled In News

Posted on: February 3rd, 2011 by IYCA 9 Comments

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The incredible Eric Chessen has gotten some MAJOR notoriety for himself recently.

 

The co-creator of the IYCA‘s “Special Needs Fitness Course” was profiled in Yahoo News for the groundbreaking work he does in the autism community.

 

You can read the entire article here:

 

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_weekend/20110128/ts_yblog_weekend/autism-fitness

 

And please…

 

Be sure to leave your comments of ‘congrats’ to Eric below.

 

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Youth Fitness and Politics… I Never Expected This

Posted on: November 1st, 2010 by IYCA 33 Comments

youth fitness

Mixing Youth Fitness & Politics doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.

 

But today, I’m taking a chance and risking a lot.

Here’s the thing, I’m fed up, overwhelmed by stupid and entirely annoyed.

 

But all at the same time, I really don’t know which side of the fence I sit on.

 

I sat glued to the TV playing absently in the background of my gym during a workout last week.

 

The opening sentence of a commercial caught my attention:

 

“The government thinks my child is fat, so decided it wants me to pay for that!!”

 

Yup… I was listening HARD after hearing that.

 

And here’s the gist of the message contained in the 90 second commercial:

 

Because of the rise in youth obesity, certain States within the U.S. have started adding additional taxes to the purchase of items such as soft drinks, sugar waters and certain ‘sports’ drinks.

 

Many families are against it, suggesting that the government has absolutely no place in deciding what they should or shouldn’t buy based on making some goods over-expensive with tax and therefore potentially out of budget.

 

Now… Here’s my take…

 

Politically, I want the government interfering with my life as little as possible.

 

Safe neighborhoods, freedom from crime and terrorism, clean drinking water and that’s about it!

 

I’ll take care of the rest myself.

 

So at first glance, I want NOTHING to do with specific tax measures placed on certain foods. Even the unhealthy ones.

 

It just doesn’t feel right.

 

BUT…

 

At what point is an external solution necessary in some capacity?

 

If parents continue their ignorance and/or stupidity, where will that leave their child in 10 years?

 

I’ve always considered Youth Obesity to be the most acceptable form of child abuse – and if you agree with that, then forced outside assistance is NECESSARY.

 

A child doesn’t ask to be beaten by his Mom or Dad.

 

But he or she also doesn’t ask to weigh 100 pounds by the age of 7 either.

 

And if a child was being beaten physically, as a society we would ALL want to run to the rescue of that young, defenseless person.

 

Why wouldn’t we here?

 

And here’s another way of thinking about it…

 

In many States, CIGARETTES have become an incredibly taxed purchase as a direct way of reducing smoking in both young and adult populations.

 

If they can’t afford them, they can’t smoke them.

 

Anyone complaining about that government intrusion?

 

So… I sit undecided (although leaning towards one direction).

 

What say you on this hot youth fitness topic?

 

Please, don’t be shy or brief – say what you feel:

 

 

– Brian

 

  

IYCA Family Member Creates ‘True Youth Sports’

Posted on: June 7th, 2010 by IYCA 3 Comments

Program Developed to Make a Difference in youth sports & Fitness

 

Determined to make a dent in local youth obesity rates, a Brampton fitness professional is launching what he calls the city’s first fitness camp designed exclusively to help children foster a lifelong love of healthy living.

 

"Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions with factors such as fast food, computers, TV, video games, all contributing to the problem," said David Kittner, founder of True Youth Sports Brampton Fit Camp.

 

"Over 50 per cent of our children are overweight and almost 20 per cent are obese. We’re elated to begin offering the True Youth Sports Brampton Fit Camp program to help combat this problem and to introduce kids, ages eight to 13, to a healthy fitness lifestyle in a safe, fun, and non-intimidating format."

 

A report released by Peel Public Health earlier this year entitled "A Picture of Health" reveals 47 per cent of the Region’s 1.2 million population is overweight or obese.

 

The report findings also show that many youngsters in Peel struggle with weight as a result of lack of exercise.

 

With obesity rates among youngsters hitting dangerous levels, Kittner, a fitness expert with more than 15 years of experience, said he felt compelled to do something about it.

 

This led to the idea of introducing a proper fitness camp for children that strives to instill the importance of being active early on.

 

"It’s sad to see how many unhealthy kids there are out there," Kittner said. "The vast majority of kids today have sedentary lifestyles even if they’re participating in organized sports activities … so offering this much needed program was a no-brainer."

 

Kittner said the True Youth Sports Brampton Fit Camp training system has been developed by the world’s leading youth fitness organization, the International Youth Conditioning Association, and will be delivered by certified fitness professionals who will help motivate and inspire the kids to be active and have fun.  

 

"Our programs are designed with safety and fun in mind; if it’s not fun, kids are not going to stick with youth sports," he said.

 

 

IYCA: Is It Odd?

Posted on: December 21st, 2009 by IYCA 21 Comments

Is it odd that in 2009, I drove to Iowa to spend two days with IYCA Member
Aaron Larmore, just so I could see his new facility and offer insight on how
it could run most efficiently?

 

Is it odd that Pat, Nick and myself routinely got on the phone with IYCA
Members from all over the world just to see if we could help with any business
or training related questions they had?

 

Is it odd that I hosted three ‘Coffee, Tea and Talk’ events – for free – and invited
IYCA Members to join me so I could help them with marketing or training
issues they were having?

 

To us at Head Office, it’s not odd.

 

It’s just what the IYCA stands for.

 

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Childhood Obesity: The Threat To Youth Fitness

Posted on: October 28th, 2009 by IYCA 21 Comments

 

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Childhood Obesity

Liz D:

I’ve posted a question on a local moms forum asking what parents think are the root causes of Childhood Obesity/inactivity.

 

Certainly the typical ideas came forth: too much fast food, lack of exercise, not getting kids engaged in good habits early.

 

One idea did strike me and I’ve heard other moms tell me this. Heck, I even live this circumstance now:

 

One serious threat to youth activity is the lack of safety in our neighborhoods. We have so much access to information that we know when a sex offender moves into the ‘hood. We also hear about creeps on the news and evildoers who have even taken a child, hand-in-hand away from her backyard to bring her off premises.

 

With all this scary stuff afoot, moms and dads are definitely afraid to give their young kids especially too much liberty outside.

 

Has anyone ever polled parents to see if this comes up? Heck, for you IYCA parents out there, is this a factor in your life? Is organized sports the only recourse people see? Is there a solution to this or at least a good rib-tickling one-liner I can give these people? (Just goofing there)

 

Please chime in on your ideas.

 

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IYCA Summit DVD Sale Extended Extra 24 Hours

Posted on: May 26th, 2009 by IYCA No Comments

 

 

IYCA Summit Sale

Sometimes the calendar works to our advantage.

 

This past weekend’s holiday here in the U.S. has helped me make a very
important decision.

 

I’m going to extend your ‘first exposure’ offer for the entire DVD collection
from the IYCA Summit by one more day.

 

Midnight on Wednesday is when your clock runs out.

 

Read these testimonials from some of the Summit attendees and be prepared
to answer one question after…..

 

"The IYCA Summit was hands down the most incredible experience of my
life to date"

 

"The IYCA Summit was the most engaging educational seminar that I have ever
attended"

 

"I just wanted to let you know that the IYCA Summit was by far one of the very
best fitness conferences I’ve ever attended"

 

"Best event I’ve been to in 10+ years"

 

"One word that describes the IYCA Summit to me – ‘Unbelievable!"

 

Now here’s the question –

 

Do those sound like the kind of testimonials you get form other fitness conferences?

 

More over, do they sound like the kind of testimonials that make you think
clicking the link below WOULDN’T be something of interest to you?

 

You have until Midnight on Wednesday.

 

At very least, click on the link below and see what all the international ‘hype’ is
all about…

 

… And what you’re missing –

 

http://www.iyca.org/2009summitdvds

 

 

– Brian

 

 

IYCA: Being Part of Something Bigger and Better

Posted on: April 9th, 2009 by IYCA No Comments

 

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IYCA and Youth Fitness Pros

"Our staff saw first-hand the commitment and passion that draws many to the IYCA. The Founder volunteered his time and drove 5 hours to help us out. He gave our team pointers on how to become better coaches and grow our training business! We are still in awe of how well this past weekend went! Thanks again Brian for the man you are and the organization you assembled!! What the IYCA has done for my career is something I just can’t express in words"

 

– Aaron Larmore

 

 

iyca

 

Become Part of our International IYCA Family Now…. And Experience the Difference –

 

http://www.iyca.org/youth-fitness-certification

 

Kids Fitness Certification: Weekend Food for Thought

Posted on: March 6th, 2009 by IYCA 2 Comments

 

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"It felt more like a family gathering than a conference"

 

Carlos Alvarez, one of the tremendous speakers from my Summit
two weekends ago in Louisville, wrote that on his blog just three
days after the Summit concluded.

 

And he’s right.

 

Nick, Pat, Sara and myself go out of our way to create a ‘family-
oriented’ feel about the IYCA.

 

It’s not self-serving.

 

We don’t do it because we think it’s going to get us more ‘sales’.

 

We do it because we think it’s necessary.

 

Fitness Professionals are a fragmented group.

 

Most fitness certification organizations offer credentials and little
more.

 

They disseminate information and give you letters to put after
your last name, but don’t ever go much above or beyond that to
impact your life or improve your career.

 

The IYCA is going to change the world partly with our Kids Fitness Certification.

 

But we can’t do it without you.

 

You’re part of the family.

 

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Youth Fitness Certification Conference: My Weekend in New York City

Posted on: October 13th, 2008 by IYCA 1 Comment

Youth Fitness Certification Seminar In New York.

Manhattan is a great place.

 

I just got back from a 3-day jaunt through this fantastic

part of the U.S. – I spoke at the Town Sports International

annual conference.

 


And as I mentioned to you last week, I was also asked to offer

a pre-conference ‘Level 1 – Youth Fitness Certification’

seminar to all interested TSI employees.

 

So this past Friday, Dr. Kwame Brown and myself spent 7 hours

teaching 56 eager Fitness Professionals all about the

IYCA training system and protocols.

 

And once again, it was to rave reviews.

 

Now I don’t say that to sound cocky or arrogant at all.

 

Just a point of reference that shows how much this

industry is changing.

 

Assessments are still important.

 

Programming is still on demand.

 

Group Training specifics are a constant topic of interest.

 

But by far and away, the niche of youth fitness and

sport training has become the ‘thing’ Fitness Professionals

most want to know about.

 

And for good reason.

 

It’s the fastest growing market in this industry.

 

For Trainers who earn just above the poverty level (which

is most of us), an emerging and untapped market is a

literal miracle.

 

Especially a market whose demographic is in dire need

of help and face a tremendous crisis.

 

56 Fitness Professionals got certified through the IYCA

on Friday.

 

Another 103 came to my two seminars the very next day.

 

That’s a grand total of 159 new or soon-to-be-new Members

of the IYCA.

 

We are the fastest growing organization in this industry.

 

Because we service the fastest growing market.

 

It’s a perfect match.

 

An organization who will give you every training and

business tool necessary to succeed in a market that is

both vast an untapped.

 

Here’s an email I received from one of the Fitness

 

Professionals who was in my audience this past weekend –

 

“I just wanted to give you a big hug after your lecture and

ask if you could clone yourself so you could be in more

places at one time… Thank you for what you have done and

your wonderful attributes to the children of the world! You

are a true hero!!”

 

I sure do appreciate that email.

 

It feels good to have such an impact on people.

 

But bigger than that, I know that my efforts and the

efforts of the IYCA  and the Youth Fitness Certification are starting to pay off.

 

We gain new Members daily – 159 this past weekend alone.

 

And we are building a virtual army of dedicated and

highly trained professionals to combat what has become

a virtual epidemic worldwide.

 

You know, another audience member of mine asked me an

interesting question after one of talks this past weekend

that I wanted to share with you.

 

She came up to me and said this –

 

“I’ve been thinking about becoming certified as a Youth

Fitness Specialist for a few months now. Cut to the chase

for me…. Why should I?”

 

“Interesting question” I replied.

 

“My answer is simple. Why wouldn’t you?”

 

Quite simply, untapped markets don’t stay

untapped for very long.

 

Savvy (and successful) professionals know when to act

and take advantage of a market trend while its on the

rise.

 

Not too long from now, their will be ‘Youth Fitness

Specialists’ by the thousands all over the world.

 

And your opportunity to become the first and best

in your community will be gone forever.

 

Isn’t $247 and a money back guarantee if you aren’t

satisfied worth the risk?

 

It was to King Hoover of Dallas, Texas and look what’s

happened to his career –

 

http://www.iyca.org/fitspecialist1

 

‘Till next time,

 

Brian