Youth Fitness Trainer Certification (YFT)

If children are our future, we're in big trouble.

Dr. Hugh D. Allen stated in USA Today that 30 million of the 80 million kids alive today in the US will die of heart disease as adults, unless current trends change. And that’s not all. A wide variety of health problems have all been linked to childhood obesity.

Youth fitness training is one of the fastest-growing segments in the health club and fitness industry. Not only can you change lives, you can earn a great living or substantially increase your current income. The gift of fitness is one that many parents will readily give their children, especially if they know how important fitness is to a young life.

ISSA's youth fitness trainer certification helps you show kids how to develop a winning attitude that will make them better athletes. A great compliment to a physical education career path, the course teaches proven techniques that will treat and prevent obesity before it causes a lifetime of health problems.

Included in the Youth Fitness Trainer (YFT) Course

The 284 page core text is complemented by a workbook and study guide with detailed learning objectives to help you get the most out of your studies.

These expertly designed learning materials are further enhanced by our 139 page “Fitness for Kids and Teens” supplemental reading guide.

Your course materials will also include your Home Study Section Quizzes. Once you have submitted at least 66% of your course quizzes, you will be sent your official Home Study final examination. You may also choose to complete your Section Quizzes online, if you would prefer. Should you choose to complete your quizzes online, once you have submitted at least 66% of them, you will be sent your official final examination.

20 Years of Personal Training Certification

Since 1988, the ISSA has certified and provided continuing fitness education to nearly 100,000 people just like you who want to help others feel better, look better and improve the quality of their lives.

We are unconditionally committed to providing expanded access to the highest quality personal training certification and continuing fitness education programs available, advancing our industry as a whole, and developing greater access to career opportunities for those who share our vision of Creating a Stronger, Healthier World™.

Try our Career Calculator to calculate how much extra money you could earn this year by turning your passion for fitness into profit as a personal trainer with just a few clients a week.

ISSA Youth Fitness Trainer Course Study Options

It all starts with home study materials. Our course is self-paced, so you can take as much or as little time as you need to complete it, up to two years. The home study materials you receive are all that is necessary to pass your exam. We also provide one-on-one toll-free phone support Monday through Friday to our students at no additional charge.

Enhance Your Studies With Online Learning

We also provide the ability to enhance your home studies with online learning at no additional charge. ISSAtrainer.com, our exclusive members-only site, includes interactive quizzes, online educational support, as well as audio muscle and supplement glossaries (so that you know how to pronounce the new terms you learn) and a video exercise library that demonstrates proper form for some of the most common and most effective strength exercises.

You receive the home study materials, section quizzes, and online access when you enroll in ISSA.

Your certification exam is open book and untimed. We will mail your final exam once you have completed/submitted at least 66% of your course quizzes. You may choose to complete your Section Quizzes either online or via mail--whichever direction works best for you.

ISSA Youth Fitness Trainer Certification Exam

Your final examination consists of four sections:

• SECTION I: The first part of your SSC Examination is worth 25 points and consists of 50 multiple choice questions
• SECTION II: The second part of your examination is worth 24 points and consists of 12 short essays
• SECTION III: The third part of your YFT Examination includes one long essay, worth 15 points
• SECTION IV: The fourth part of your examination is worth 45 points and consists of three case studies

How long does it take to complete the certification?

You have up to two years from the date of enrollment to complete your course. However, you may complete the course as quickly or as slowly as you would like within that 2 year period.

Help us Create a Stronger, Healthier World.™

Enroll Online or call us toll free at 800-892-4772 to speak with one of our enrollment representatives.

Student Support

We are most proud of the fact that ISSA's personal training course offerings do not just begin and end with a book and a piece of paper. While we are committed to providing top-quality course materials to potential fitness trainers, our course offerings do not stop there.

We also provide unlimited one-on-one support to all ISSA students as they study for their personal training certification exam—both online and LIVE via our toll-free help line—at no additional cost.

But, best of all, the ISSA's support doesn't end once you pass your exam. Included with your course fee is unlimited access to our ISSAtrainer.com web site, where you can access hundreds of job listings, ISSA exclusive opportunities and discounts, and our online forum where you can post client or business challenges and receive guidance from members of the ISSA family worldwide.

And access to this site is available for as long as you remain an ISSA personal trainer in good standing.

Youth Fitness Trainer: Table of Contents

ISSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

INTRODUCTION

• Personal Training for Youth Fitness and Sports
• Prerequisite Knowledge
• Recruiting Clients
• Working with Clients

INTRODUCTION SECTION 1: BASICS OF EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY

1.1: Growth and Developement

• EXERCISE AND GROWTH
• The Nature of the Growth Process
• Growth during Childhood
• Growth at Puberty and Adolescence
• Skeletal Changes during Growth
• Changes in Body Composition
• Muscle Growth and Physical Performance
• Cardiovascular and Metabolic Function during Growth
• Genetic Considerations
• SUMMARY

1.2: Metabolism

• ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND EXERCISE
• Exercise and the Three Energy Systems
• Developing Metabolic Fitness
• METABOLISM AND THE YOUNG PERSON

1.3: Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Exercise Physiology

• THE PULMONARY SYSTEM AND EXERCISE
• THE HEART, BLOOD VESSELS, AND EXERCISE
• SUMMARY

1.4: Muscle Physiology

• MUSCLE STRENGTH: SIZE, NEURAL ACTIVATION, ELASTIC RECOIL, AND SKILL
• Muscle Structure and Strength
• Hypertrophy or Hyperplasia?
• How Muscle Fibers Get Bigger
• MUSCLE AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
• ELASTIC MUSCLE ENERGY
• Physiology of Muscle Elasticity
• Skill
• Coordinating Components of Strength
• SUMMARY

1.5: Temperature Regulation

• PRINCIPLES OF TEMPERATURE REGULATION
• Heat Production
• Heat Loss
• Temperature Regulatory Control by the
• Hypothalamus
• SUMMARY

1.6: Exercise in the Heat and Cold

• EXERCISE IN THE HEAT
• Thermal Distess
• Dehydration
• Heat Cramps
• Heat Exhaustion
• Heat Stroke
• Preventing Heat Problems
• EXERCISE IN THE COLD
• Acclimatization and Habituation to Cold
• Hyporthermia
• Frostbite
• SUMMARY

1.7: Obesity in Children and Measuring Body Composition

• CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY
• WEIGHT REGULATION IN CHILDREN
• MEASURING BODY COMPOSITION IN YOUNG PEOPLE
• Height and Weight Norms for US Children
• The BodyCompKIT to Measure Body Composition
• Height-for-Weight Tables
• Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Composition of the Human Body
• Essential and Storage Fat
• Adipose Tissue
• Storage Fat
• COMMON TECHNIQUES TO ASSESS BODY COMPOSITION
• Skinfold Measurements
• SUMMARY

 

SECTION 2: DESIGNING TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN

2.1: The Training Response: Principles of training and adaptation

• PRINCIPLES OF TRAINING
• The Overload Principle
• Specificity of Training
• Individual Differences
• Progression
• Reversibility
• DEVELOP YOUR BODY TO SUIT YOUR LIFE-STYLE
• Principles of Training
• A Closer Look at the Principles of Training

 

2.2: Endurance Fitness

• GOALS
• MEASURING ENSURANCE FITNESS
• BASIC ENDURANCE FITNESS FOR HEALTH
• ENDURANCE FITNESS FOR PERFORMANCE LEVEL PHYSICAL FITNESS
• Type of Exercise
• Intensity of Training
• Training Duration
• Training Frequency
• Over-Distance Training
• Interval Training
• SUMMARY

2.3: Flexibility

• WHAT DETERMINES FLEXIBILITY
• Tissues that Obstuct Range of Motion
• Muscle Elasticity
• TYPES OF STRETCHING TEQHNIQUES
• Static Stretching
• Ballistic Stretching
• Passive Stretching
• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
• BENEFITS OF FLEXIBILITY AND STRETCHING EXERCISES
• PRINCIPLES OF FLEXIBILITY
• BASIC STRETCHING EXERCISES

2.4: Muscle Strength

• PRINCIPLES OF STRENGTH TRAINING
• Resistive Exercise Method
• Choosing the Exercises
• Days Per Week
• Repetitions, Sets, and Rest
• Order of Exercise
• Safety and Preventing Injury
• BASIC WEIGHT TRAINING EXERCISE
• Exercises for the Chest and Shoulders
• Exercises for the Upper Back
• Exercises for the Arms
• Exercises for the Abdomen
• Exercises for the Thighs and Gluteals
• Exercises for the Calves
• Basic Weight Training Programs

2.5: Jumping and Plyometrics

• Staitonary Plyometrics
• Horizontal Jumps and Hops
• Bounce Push-Ups
• Box Jumping
• Medicine Ball Exercises
• Medicine Ball Exercises With a Partner
• Olympic Weight Lifting

2.6: Power and Speed

• ELEMENTS OF POWER
• Genetics
• Metabolic Capacity
• Muscle Size
• Skill
• SPRINTING
• POWER TRAINING

2.7: Structuring The Program

• DESIGNING THE PROGRAM
• General Fitness for Health
• Higher Levels of General Fitness
• Fitness Programs and Power Sports
• Body Building
• Endurance Fitness
• SUMMARY

SECTION 3: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE YOUNG ATHLETE

3.1: Helping the Child Enjoy Sports and Physical Activity

• HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT SPORT
• The Personal Trainer Can Help Choose the Best Sport
• HOW YOUNG SHOULD A CHILD BEGIN COMPETITION?
• Are Athletes Safe?
• PROVIDING A GOOD SPRTS EXPERIENCE
• The Emotional Elements
• GIRLS AND ATHLETICS
• TEACHING KIDS TO WIN AND LOOSE
• THE RIGHTS OF YOUNG ATHLETES
• SUMMARY

3.2: Psychology of the Champion

• THE WINNING EDGE
• THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE CHAMPION ATHLETE
• Psychological Differences Between Athletes
• THE ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS
• Belief
• Vision
• Method
• MEASURING ANXIETY IN ATHLETES

SECTION 4: SPORTS NUTRITION

4.1: Nutrition for Health and Performance

• ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
• Energy
• Fats
• Carbohydrates
• Proteins
• Vitamins and Minerals
• Water
• THE HEALTHY, HIGH-PERFORMANCE DIET AND THE FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID
• DIET EXERCISE AND WEIGHT CONTROL
• Principles of Losing Weight for Active People
• Substances Taken to Aid Weight Control
• The Poly-Drug and Food Supplement
• Phenomenon in Sports

4.2: Ergogenic Aids: Drugs and Supplements

• ETHICS OF ERGOGENIC AID USE IN CHILDRENS SPORTS
• COMMON DRUGS AND SUPPLEMENTS AVAILABLE TO YOUNG ATHLETES
• Agents Taken to Promote Muscle Hypertrophy
• Agents Taken to Speed Recovery
• Substances Taken to Increase Aggressiveness &
• Training Intensity
• Substances Taken to Aid Weight Control
• SUMMARY

SECTION 5: CHILDREN AND ATHLETIC INJURIES

5.1: Preventing Injuries

• PREVENTING INJURIES
• Proper Coaching
• The Role of the Parents ans the Personal Trainer
• Good Equipment
• Medical Supervision
• When to Call the Doctor
• SUMMARY

5.2: Common Injuries in Childrens Sports

• INJURIES TO JOINTS AND MUSCLES
• Immediate Treatment
• OVERUSE INJURIES
• Osgood-Schlatters Disease
• IMBALANCE INJURIES
• GROWTH PLATE INJURIES
• OTHER CONDITIONS
• Mononucleosis
• Asthma
• SUMMARY

SECTION 6: FITNESS ASSESSMENT

6.1: Assessing Fitness in Children

• THE PRESIDENT'S CHALLANGE: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND FITNESS PROGRAM
• Curl-ups or Partial Curl-ups
• Shuttle Run
• Mile Run/Walk Test
• Upper Body Strenght Test
• Flexibility Test
• MEASURING ENDURANCE FITNESS
• Endurance Fitness and Maximal Oxygen
• Consumption
• Field Tests For Measuring Endurance

Course Author

Thomas Fahey,Ed.D

Thomas Fahey received his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley in 1972. He earned his bachelors and masters degrees at San Francisco State University, where he was an All-American discus thrower and competed in power lifting competitions. He currently is professor of Physical Education and Exercise Science at California State University, Chico, where he teaches exercise physiology and helps to coach discus throwers.

Dr. Fahey has authored 15 books on exercise physiology, wellness, and strength, and hundreds of articles for scientific journals and bodybuilding and fitness magazines. He serves as a coach at the John Powell summer throwers camp at Dennison University in Ohio and is a world-class masters track and field athlete, competing in the discus and hammer throw. He won five United States national championships, two gold medals in the World Games, and two silver medals in the Masters Athletics World Championships.

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