question about certifications dealing with sports? - Personal Trainer Community - Forum

[crazy_trainer22]

i have a NSCA CPT but i cant sit for the CSCS yet due to some issues with my university and my transcripts are there any other LEGIT certs out there maybe something that deals with speed or agility, i know CSCS is def. the gold standard but is there anything that can hold me over until i can sit for the exam??

Thanks 8) [/code]

[rbd]

If you are going to work with kids, then the IYCA (International Youth Conditioning Association) is now the gold standard. If you have not heard of Brian Grasso and work with kids, you are really outdated with your education for working with kids. Check out IYCA.org.

Hope this helps.

[akyoda32]

rbd..as with any cert that is a matter of opinion. I did level 1 and am not impressed at all, unless you are working with 6yr olds. Of course there are more levels to do but as I said I am not impressed and am not wasting another dime on Brians certs. I would recommend his developing athletics dvd's though, you get a lot more bang for your buck if you are already certified.
http://www.developingathletics.com/

[rbd]

Very true about certs and I was only talking youth specific. I have been in the industry for over 11 years and have yet to see one that deals with this population better then the IYCA and that was all I was implying with my post, so sorry if it came across otherwise. I do think Brian has a better grasp on this market then most individuals I have come across in the industry, but like everything you always want to continue your education and you will never get everything you need from a cert.

I do think NSCA is probably the best currently in the industry, but like you said that is a matter of opinion, but from my experience and overseeing trainers from other certs I think their criteria is better then most in the industry.

[akyoda32]

he does take a different approach to training kids, and this approach is much better than anything I have come across also, but instead of getting the IYCA certs I would recommend just buying the developing athletics series, I believe that is his level 4 material anyway.

[rbd]

Depending on your background with youth I can't disagree at all with you on that one. I don't own the complete athleic development program yet, but I know that is his system that he has used for years, so probably great stuff. I know his main goal is the long-term development of athletes and not 4 week programs, which is the way we should be training our youth. I know the entry level cert does lay some basic foundational stuff that many dont have if they haven't worked with or read some good books on developing youth. which most I have come across in the fitness industry have not. To many adult based programs pushed on kids.

I met Brian years back before the IYCA and was part of going through the program before he released the Youth Conditioning Specialist cert (Now been changed to Youth Fitness Specialist). He has since changed the process since I went through it. Level 1 now has dvd's and companion book to the IYCA text, which it did not have before (so not sure when you took it, cause things have changed). I have not talked to Brian lately so not sure what levels 2-4 will offer. Brian is a great guy and really has a passion for training youth, so I don't think you can go wrong with his products if you want to specialize in training kids.