Faigenbaum-1ACSM Health and Fitness Summit
March 12-15, 2013Building Young Athletes: Steps to SuccessAvery D. Faigenbaum, EdD, FACSM
Department of Health and Exercise Science
The College of New Jersey
Email: [email protected]Summary: Aspiring young athletes need to participate in preparatory conditioning programs that
are purposely designed to enhance their muscular strength and motor skill performance. In this
lecture, the latest advances in training children and adolescents will be reviewed, common
questions from parents will be answered, and program design considerations for developing age-
related fitness programs for aspiring young athletes will be explored.
I. Introduction
A. Trends in fitness c onditioning and sports participation among children and adolescents
B. Current public health recommendations
C. Opportunities for the fitness industry
II. Secular trends in youth physical activity
A. Are we in the midst of an “unfitness” epidemic among youth?
B. Are contemporary youth prepared for sports practice and competition?
III. FUNdamental Integrative Training (FIT) for aspiring youth athletes
A. Health and skill-related fitness components: Integrate don’t isolate
B. Importance of developing muscular strength and motor skills
C. The hypothetical “proficiency barrier”
D. “Exercise deficit disorder” in youth: Play now or pay later
IV. Exercise is Sports Medicine
A. Thoughts from the International Olympic Committee
B. The vortex of physical inactivity during childhood and adolescence
C. Strategies for reducing sports-related injuries in young athletes
D. Modifiable risk factors associated with training in youth