My youth fitness question to you last Friday certainly created a stir.

The IYCA Blog was literally LIT UP by passionate professionals worldwide,
all of whom chimed in with there thoughts to my query –

"What is the biggest problem in youth fitness and sport training?"

The responses were intelligent, articulate and clearly came from people who
have incredible fervor for this topic.

One of my favorite posts came from a good friend of mine.

Someone whose knowledge on the subject is truly amazing. I have enjoyed
learning from her since our first correspondence back in 2005.

Leigh Ashton is the former Director for the Long-Term Athlete Development
Program at the Millennium Institute in New Zealand and has recently opened
that country’s very first youth training center with her husband, Gareth, a man
whose intellect and passion for doing things "right" rivals Leigh’s.

Here’s what she had to say –

"This is a great thread and shows that:

A) there are many common issues worldwide with youth sports and fitness training

B) Brian and the IYCA are doing a fantastic job at calling these issues to our
attention.

I think the next issue for all of us commenting here is what we are going to do
about it? My husband and I have been friends of Brian’s since 2005 and have
just opened New Zealand’s first youth-only fitness centre.

The issue we feel strongly about (in addition to those outlined above) is for
those of us who have this knowledge to go beyond just talking about the issues
and have the courage to take action!!"

That last paragraph is as succinct and perfectly worded a message as I could
have hoped for when I asked my question last week.

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