Become a Certified
Youth Fitness Specialist
* 20 Credits *
Build strong bodies. Shape confident futures
How It Works
REPS UAE 10 CPD
ISSA 20 CEUs
What You'll Learn From This Yoga Instructor Certification Course
receiving the most accurate and up-to-date information available.
✔️ Apply the sports psychology principles for young clients
✔️ Incorporate the knowledge of energy and growth needs, nutritional content of food, and the food pyramid to facilitate replacement of unhealthy foods in a client’s diet with nutritious foods.
✔️ Identify the causes of overtraining and injury and incorporate injury prevention into the training program.
✔️ Identify a situation when it is necessary to seek out a doctor’s assistance with exercise design and/or injury needs.
✔️ Apply the principles of pediatric and adolescent growth, metabolism, muscle anatomy, biomechanics, training, and adaptation principles to create appropriate workout programs for children and teens based on fitness level and goals.
✔️ Measure the body composition of a young client and classify the results according to the youth physical development guidelines.
✔️ Develop a comprehensive exercise program that utilizes Adaptive Programming principles and techniques to address the fitness requirements of a young client.
COURSE CONTENTS
Introduction
Summary
Exercise and Growth
Summary
Energy Management and Exercise
Metabolism and the Young Person
Summary
The Pulmonary System and Exercise
The Heart, Blood Vessels, and Exercise
Summary
Muscle Strength: Size, Neural Activation, Elastic Recoil, and Skill
Muscle and the Nervous System
Elastic Muscle Energy
Summary
Principles of Temperature Regulation
Summary
Exercise in the Heat
Exercise in the Cold
Summary
Causes of Childhood Obesity
Weight Regulation in Children
Measuring Body Composition in Young People
Composition of the Human Body
Common Techniques to Assess Body Composition
Summary
Goals
Measuring Endurance Fitness
Basic Endurance Fitness for Health
Endurance Program for Performance-Level Physical Fitness
Summary
What Determines Flexibility?
Types of Stretching Techniques
Benefits of Flexibility and Stretching Exercises
Principles of Flexibility
Basic Stretching Exercises
Summary
Developing Basic Movement Skills for Strength Training
Basic Weight Training Exercises
Summary
Jumping and Plyometrics
Summary
Elements of Power
Sprinting
Power Training
Agility
Functional Training
Olympic Weight Lifting
Summary
The President’s Challenge: Physical Activity and Fitness Program
Measuring Endurance Fitness
Measuring for Power
Measuring for Speed
Measuring for Strength
Predicting One-Repetition Maximum (1-RM) from Multiple Repetitions
Maintaining a Good Measurement Program
Genetic Testing in Children
Summary
Developmentally Appropriate Training Programs
Summary
How to Select the Right Sport
Summary
The Winning Edge
The Psychology of the Champion Athlete
The Elements of Success
Measuring Anxiety in Athletes
Summary
Essential Nutrients
The Healthy, High Performance Diet and MyPlate
Diet, Exercise, and Weight Control
Summary
Ethics of Ergogenic Aids Use in Children’s Sports
Common Drugs and Supplements Available to Young Athletes
Summary
Preventing Injuries
Summary
Injuries to Joints and Muscles
Overuse Injuries
Imbalance Injuries
Growth Plate Injuries
Other Conditions
Summary
Your New Career as a Specialist in Youth Fitness Starts Here
Dr. Hugh D. Allen stated in USA Today that nearly 30 million young people in the United States are at risk of developing heart disease in adulthood due to poor health habits early in life. Numerous studies link childhood obesity and low physical activity levels to long-term health issues, making youth fitness training more important than ever. As awareness grows, youth fitness has become one of the fastest-growing segments of the fitness and health industry.
At the same time, youth sports participation is expanding rapidly, with structured training programs beginning as early as age five. Many families view early athletic development as a pathway to long-term opportunities, including scholarships and competitive advantages. As a result, parents are increasingly willing to invest time, education, and resources into high-quality youth fitness and sports training programs.
✔️ Study at your own pace with flexible online learning designed to fit your busy schedule.
✔️ Complete your certification exam online, from anywhere you feel comfortable.
✔️ Benefit from dedicated customer support before, during, and after your certification journey.
Premium Resources and Expert Support
This online handy reference guide walks you through the course unit-by-unit, allowing you to gain a better understanding of corrective exercise concepts.
The practice exam and quizzes test your understanding of the materials; so while you’re reading you’re preparing for the exam at the same time.
ISSA and Hyperstrike provide you with an exclusive online exercise lab with over 250 animated exercises. 3D animation and three different angles ensure that proper form and technique are a breeze!
ISSA Master Trainers are online and ready for your questions anytime. Post your questions and receive guidance from both our on-staff personal training experts and the worldwide ISSA community.
All ISSA students have access to unlimited educational support. If you have questions about the course materials, our on-staff professors can guide you through. This support continues even after you earn your personal trainer certification.
ISSA’s certification exam solidifies your proficiency as a fitness professional. Choose a paper-and-pencil exam or utilize our secure online testing portal. One No-cost Retest (if necessary).
COURSE AUDIENCE (for whom this course can be useful)
✅ Aspiring Youth Fitness Specialists and Coaches looking to build a career in children’s and adolescent fitness training.
✅ Individuals aiming to enhance their expertise in designing, implementing, and supervising safe and effective fitness programs for young athletes and kids.
✅ Those seeking reputable certifications to strengthen their professional credibility in youth fitness and physical education.
✅ Trainers, teachers, and coaches striving to improve their knowledge of child development, age-appropriate exercise techniques, and injury prevention.
✅ Motivated individuals committed to helping children and teens develop healthy habits, improve physical fitness, and build confidence through structured exercise programs.
Youth Fitness Specialist – Frequently Asked Questions
The Youth Fitness Specialist Certification is a professional program by IFPE Academy that teaches how to design safe, effective, and age-appropriate fitness programs for children and adolescents.
This course is ideal for fitness trainers, sports coaches, physical education teachers, and professionals who work with children or teenage athletes.
Yes. Successful completion provides REPs UAE CPD credits, which can be used as part of the required CPD credits for REPs UAE license renewal.
The course covers youth physical development, exercise science for children, injury prevention, program design, and long-term athletic development.
Yes, the course is suitable for beginners, although basic knowledge of fitness or coaching is considered an advantage.
Yes, the course is delivered fully online, allowing students to study at their own pace and complete the final exam remotely.
This certification helps expand career opportunities in gyms, schools, sports academies, and youth training programs across the Middle East.
There are no mandatory prerequisites, but prior experience in fitness, sports, or coaching is beneficial.
Yes, this certification is issued by ISSA and is internationally recognized, including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman.
Related Articles for Fitness Professionals
How to Design Safe and Effective Exercise Programs for Children and Teens
Physical Development in Children and Adolescents: What Every Youth Fitness Coach Must Know
Injury Prevention in Youth Sports: Best Training Practices for Young Athletes
Youth Fitness Career Opportunities in the Middle East: Demand, Salaries, and Certifications
Approved by the International Sports Sciences
Association (ISSA), USA.
