The ACSM Youth Fitness Specialist Certificate online course is designed for professionals who want to better understand the unique exercise physiology and needs of children and young athletes.
The course draws from the text ACSM’s Essentials of Youth Fitness and comprises three parts, divided into a total of 16 modules, with the end goal of providing course-takers with the information they need to help youth of all ages and abilities participate in evidence-based training programs.
Who Would Benefit From Taking This Course?
- Students (both undergraduate and graduate)
- Fitness professionals
- Coaches
- Youth sports administrators
- Parents
- Teachers
- Healthcare providers
ACSM’s Essentials of Youth Fitness e-book will be used as the primary resource for the course and for the certificate exam at the end of the course. The e-book is included in the price of the course. A redemption code and instructions will be sent to the email associated with the user’s account within one week of course purchase. If you do not receive this code within one week of purchase, please email onlinelearning@acsm.org.
Learning Objectives
Part 1 – Fundamental Concepts
• Module 1 – Physical Activity and Children’s Health
• Module 2 – Principles of Pediatric Exercise Science
• Module 3 – Growth, Maturation, and Physical Fitness
• Module 4 – Long-Term Athlete Development
• Module 5 – Pedagogy for Youth Fitness Specialists
Part 2 – Youth Fitness Development
• Module 6- Assessing Youth Fitness
• Module 7 – Dynamic Warm-Up and Flexibility
• Module 8 – Motor Skill Training
• Module 9 – Strength and Power Training
• Module 10 – Speed and Agility Training
• Module 11 – Aerobic and Anaerobic Training
• Module 12 – Integrative Program Design
Part 3 – Contemporary Issues
• Module 13 – Young Athletes and Sport Participation
• Module 14 – Exercise for Overweight and Obese Youth
• Module 15 – Exercise for Youth with Selected Clinical Conditions
• Module 16 – Nutrition for Youth
