Healthy Youth Sports

Trends in Youth Fitness

Jan 31, 2024

Three experts discuss trends in youth fitness, including the rise in training facilities and programs, promoting physical activity among children, global trends in youth physical inactivity, delivering exercise programs to youth athletes, the importance of muscle strength in youth, and the importance of an evidence-based approach to youth fitness.

44:56

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Quick takeaways

Targeted interventions are necessary to combat the global trend of youth physical inactivity.

Muscle strength and motor skill development are crucial components in comprehensive youth training programs.

Deep dives

Overview of the Podcast

This podcast episode focuses on the new American College of Sports Medicine's Youth Fitness Specialist Certificate course, aimed at professionals working with children and adolescents in sports, health, and fitness. The guests discuss the purpose of the Essentials of Youth Fitness textbook and the certificate course, which is to provide resources and training for individuals to understand and promote physical activity, exercise, and health in youth populations. The course covers topics such as pediatric exercise science, motor skills development, long-term athletic development, and the importance of strength training. It is designed to help professionals foster an early love for physical activity in children, address the global issue of youth physical inactivity, and provide evidence-based strategies to support youth athletes and their overall development.

Introduction

2min

The Purpose and Benefits of the Youth Fitness Specialist Certificate

2min

Promoting Physical Activity Among Children: A Comprehensive Approach

8min

Global Trends in Youth Physical Inactivity

5min

Delivering Exercise Programs to Youth Athletes

6min

The Importance of Muscle Strength in Youth

2min

Importance of evidence-based approach to youth fitness

19min

Promoting and Improving Children's Physical Activity Levels

2min

ACSM has named "youth athletic development" to No. 9 fitness trend for 2024:

"The #9 trend represents an approach to youth training that focuses on developing motor skills, strength, and coordination. There is a rise in training facilities and programs designed to improve confidence, develop social skills, and enhance sports performance. Children and adolescents learn basic movement patterns and prepare for skill acquisition. Exercise professionals should consider continuing education or specialty training when working with this special population."

Youth fitness researchers and experts Avery Faignbaum, Ed.D., FACSM, Rhodri Lloyd, Ph.D., and Jon Oliver, Ph.D., are authors of ACSM's Essentials of Youth Fitness book, and the brand new Youth Fitness Specialist certificate course.

Today these three experts join the podcast to talk about the current state of youth fitness, and why it's been gaining interest over the last several years.

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Learn more about the book, ACSM's Essentials for Youth Fitness

Learn more about the online certificate course for ACSM's Youth Fitness Specialist