Training Young Athletes goes a lot deeper than you might think. I had an exceptional time this past weekend. I got a chance to hang out with one of the best and most unique minds in our industry – Paul Taylor. Paul owns and operates ‘PT Academy’ in Australia – which is the largest and most well-known certification organization in that part of the world. What makes Paul so unique and ‘visionary-like’ is his understanding of human behavior, cognitive function and its connection to both fitness and sport training. Now I don’t mean your standard run-of-the-mill sport psychology, either. Paul’s.. More »
Kids Fitness And The Little Things about Coaching…
Kids Fitness Coaching Tip. By Brian Grasso Great kid. Hard worker. Lots of talent. But very quiet and tends to get left out in other kids fitness partner drills. It’s very faint in the video, but you can just barely hear me talking to him. I’m inspiring him based on what I’ve seen about his personality. Talking just to him. Notice the ‘high five’ and quick pat on the stomach at the end of his set. Sometimes it’s good to motivate loudly. Other times it’s effective to be highly energetic and.. More »
Does IYCA Youth Fitness Education have Raving Fans?
[wpfblike] Youth Fitness Career Success I read a great book recently called ‘Raving Fans’. It details some principles that every business needs to have in order to become successful. The 3 main principles in ‘Raving Fans’ are: 1. Passion and honesty trump sales and marketing 2. Be sure to know what it is your customers actually want 3. Give more than is expected That book has had a much greater impact on me than I realized when I first read it. And I’ll tell you why… … Those ‘3 Principles’.. More »
Youth Fitness Opportunity: Do You See it Yet…
[wpfblike] Youth Fitness Business Family “I feel blessed” “I’ve received more back than I’ve given” “I feel like I am PART of this organization” “My career has taken off” Maybe you get tired of me ‘banging the drum’ for the IYCA and how we can help youth fitness coaches. Maybe you need to listen to what our members say…
Youth Speed & Strength Training
[wpfblike] Here’s a look at some of the speed work from this mornings youth speed training session – Basic yes, but exactly what my football players need to increase youth speed. Check out some of the strength work –
Screening Young Athletes
Young Athletes Assessments Gray Cook is arguably the most well-known and respected man in the fitness industry today. His ‘Functional Movement Screen’ has literally developed a cult following the world over. He presents seminars throughout North America, Europe and beyond. His FMS Certification is one of the most popular in existence. He is sought after by every major fitness and sport organization as a consultant or keynote educator. Gray Cook is the Brad Pitt of our industry. And not too long from now, he and I will be creating something absolutely transforming. Here’s the summary of what we talked about.. More »
120 Young Athletes… 45 Minutes
Young Athletes Can be Coached In Big Groups Now this is the kind of situation that baffles many coaches and trainers. But for good reason. What do you do when your job is to effectively train 120 young athletes, are only given 45 minutes and have nothing but an open gym space? It’s actually quite simple. Here’s the rundown step-by-step: 1. Assess Your Athletes Your assessment is not based on any sort of biomotor testing or functional movement. It can’t be. I was given very little warning about this contract and simply.. More »
Does the IYCA Really Care About Your Youth Fitness Career?
Youth fitness and sport training industry. Here’s a short video of last night’s “Coffee, Tea and Talk”… What happens when a fitness company really does go above and beyond? They don’t just TALK about providing more for their members. They don’t just PRETEND to be available. They don’t just ACT like they care. Last night was an example of why the IYCA is TRULY different and more invested in our members than any other organization in existence today. 20 Fitness Professionals from all over the mid-west converged on a Starbucks location in northwestern.. More »
Fitness For Kids: Back in the Trenches…
[wpfblike] Fitness For Kids and the IYCA is rolling fast. Speaking in Australia this summer. Club Industry and the World Golf Fitness Summit, as well. Town Sports International conference in the fall. And have been asked to consult with the Singapore Sports Council. But the funny thing is that this stuff doesn’t matter to me as much as something I consider bigger and more important… … I still coach everyday. And something happened last night that has gotten me excited beyond belief. From 2004 – 2007, I proudly served as.. More »
The ‘X Factors’ to Training Young Athletes
[wpfblike] Training young athletes and kids is so much more than just the ‘x’ and ‘o’ factors. Of course a strong base of knowledge in pediatric exercise science, motor skill development and program design is critical for you to truly create effective training and conditioning agendas for this specific demographic. But here’s something that may surprise you… I find that coaches and trainers who have big personalities and charismatic styles are often far better with kids than professionals who really ‘know their science’. That is not to knock education. The IYCA has a.. More »
Designing Youth Training Programs
[wpfblike] Youth Training Programs Most Trainers and Coaches don’t have a clue. That isn’t meant to sound horribly negative, just something I’ve noticed a lot recently. I was reading a textbook on Youth Training Programs recently that contained the following program for a high school football player: a. Hang Cleans – 4 sets, 8 reps b. Bench Press – 4 sets, 6 – 8 reps c. Incline Bench Press – 4 sets, 6 – 8 reps d. Front Pull Down – 4 sets, 8 reps e. Dumbbell Shoulder Press – 4 sets, 8 reps.. More »
IYCA Gang – How about some coffee?
[wpfblike] IYCA Executives Want to Meet You In the din of the post ‘Level 1 – Youth Fitness Specialist’ release, I’d like to extend a special invitation to you. There is no cost on this. No investment from your end. And I really don’t care if you are part of the IYCA or not. I just want to say ‘thanks’. Thanks for reading my emails, caring about kids and being passionate enough to want to create change in this industry. Now, I am 100% realistic and know full well that only a.. More »
Training Young Athletes Everyday: Why The IYCA Works
[wpfblike] Training Young Athletes Coaching Insight I’m an internet guru. I’m a corporate type. I’ve lost touch because my computer chair and my backside have become great friends these past few years. Really? Why don’t you have a look at this 60 second video and find out if that’s true… Isn’t it time you became associated with a young, vibrant and energetic fitness organization that actually UNDERSTANDS what it’s like to be you? The kind of organization that is on the cutting-edge of a market ready to explode. The kind.. More »
Youth Fitness – Q & A
[wpfblike] Youth Fitness Certification The response I received from yesterday’s Youth Fitness Specialist certification release was absolutely overwhelming. And it’s really not just a matter of ‘how many’ people got on board with the IYCA, it’s ‘how excited’ they were to become part of my international mission. Fitness and Sport Training professionals from North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and the Far East all clamored to become part of my ‘First 500 youth fitness specialists‘. I even did a radio show interview yesterday afternoon in which the host said to me off-air "I can really tell.. More »
The Youth Fitness Certification Revolution Has Started…
[wpfblike] Youth fitness certification Breakthrough. This is your chance to revive your career. Re-focus your life’s mission. Gain full access to the largest market surge this industry has seen in decades. Become part of an international mission and worthwhile cause. I am officially offering you my brand new ‘Level 1 – Youth Fitness certification Specialist’ today. And giving you the distinct opportunity of becoming part of something very special. That statement is truly at the core of my thoughts today. "Being part of something special" As Trainers and Coaches,.. More »
Youth Fitness Certification Is Almost Here
[wpfblike] It’s D-Day for you, my friend… One of those ‘no turning back now’ moments we all face from time to time. I’m ready to come clean. And here it is… Youth Fitness Certification From IYCA My life has changed like you wouldn’t believe over the past 4 months. Changes that I really never expected. To say that I am sorry they came would be a lie, though. Where my life is now is just so much better and more focused than it ever has been before. And if you’ve.. More »
Exercise Programs For Kids: 3 Key Elements…
[wpfblike] Exercise Programs For Kids Done Right There’s 3 key elements you have to understand when it comes to exercise programs for kids. And these things AREN’T taught in your standard adult based fitness certifications… A record setting 1 million clients under the age of 18 hired a personal trainer in the United States alone in 2007. Our industry is changing rapidly and the following video will explain why your current credentials may not be enough… Leave your comments below and let me know what you think on exercise programs for kids.. More »
Youth Fitness: Could It Be Your Life’s Purpose…
<body><h1>Youth Fitness and how it could be your future. </h1>Have you ever been to a standard fitness or sport training conference? If so, you likely walked away with some good information. And while that’s great, I always say that the fitness and sport training industry is moving from the age of INFORMATION to the age of INSPIRATION. You can get INFORMATION anywhere… Including while attending conferences. But how often do you walk away INSPIRED to take immediate action on what you just saw and heard? .. More »
‘My IYCA Story’: Where I’ve Come From and Where I’m Going
IYCA and it’s beginnings ‘Tragedy’ is a word that can describe a lot of things. What may be tragic to some is not tragic at all to others. That’s because life events are personal. And we are all equipped with different coping mechanisms to handle adversity differently. I wanted to give you an insight to truly understand what makes me ‘tick’. The ‘Brian’ underneath the ‘Brian J. Grasso’. This kind of personal revelation is not easy for me to offer necessarily, but something I wanted you to know and understand about me… More »
Pushing the Envelope in Youth Fitness..
Youth fitness and sport training. A demographic reserved for specific facilities and specific programs. Until now. I’ve broken the doors down and you get to walk in behind me. And what you’re walking into is the biggest expansion in the fastest growing demographic in the entire industry… Youth Fitness