We’re facing an alarming decline in youth physical activity. Globally, only about 27–33 percent of kids get the recommended 60 minutes a day, which equates to an academic “F.” Yet we hold adult-fitness professionals to rigorous standards of accountability and expertise. Shouldn’t we do the same for those who work with children?
In response, ACSM has launched the Youth Fitness Specialist Certificate: a 16-module online program covering pediatric exercise science, growth and development, fundamental movement skills, and long-term activity development. It equips coaches, teachers, healthcare providers, and fitness professionals with the tools to design safe, effective, and enjoyable programs that spark lifelong physical activity in young people.
Avery Faigenbaum
Avery Faigenbaum is a Full Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. He joined The College of New Jersey in 2004 and teaches a range of courses covering health promotion, exercise prescription, and clinical exercise physiology. His research interests focus on pediatric exercise science, resistance exercise, and preventive medicine. He has co-authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications, 50 book chapters and 10 books including Essentials of Youth Fitness, Strength and Power for Young Athletes, and Progressive Plyometrics for Kids.
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