Some of you may know the IYCA (International Youth Conditioning Association) and some of you may not.  It has been around for a few years, but is rapidly growing and aiming to revolutionize the youth fitness industry.  Founder, Brian Grasso, is pictured below addressing the crowd at the Speed Clinic I attended today.

2009 IYCA Summit

2009 IYCA Summit

As a youth training expert myself, I was eager to see the IYCA up close and gain a better understanding about its mission, leaders and members.  I left convinced Brian Grasso is just as intelligent and passionate as he always comes across in his newlsetters.  His vision is clear and the IYCA members at the summit all seeemed committed to one goal – raising the bar and providing the BEST training possible to our youth.  No egos – just a ground army of coaches looking to learn from one another and change the way youth training is delivered.

I also came away pleased to know that people like Brian Grasso and Lee Taft approach training in much the same way I do.  What exactly do I mean by this?  Here are just a few examples:

  1. High speed treadmills are not the best tools to improve speed
  2. Deceleration is often overlooked and one of the most critical phases of training we must teach our young athletes to reduce injury and increase performance
  3. Leading our children with passion and positive energy is a must
  4. Teaching our athletes and parents the “why” behind exercise selection does matter
  5. Less is really more in many cases and training should be FUN

These are just a few of the concepts that resonated with me over the weekend.  I was so impressed with the mission and leadership of the IYCA, I became a member myself.  I feel confident that this organization will help train and develop great youth fitness specialists, while making the lives of our young people better for years to come.  As a physical therapist and seasoned coach myself, I am a tough critic.  But today, I salute the IYCA and its mission.  I look forward to being a part of the organization and working with them to continue providing the very best in youth athlete training.

My video blogs will return this week as I continue to give you valuable info on shoulder training – do’s and don’ts to ensure you are training safely and effectively in the gym.  If there are certain questions you have, please let me know.