NASM Youth Exercise Specialist YES

The NASM Youth Exercise Specialist (YES) program is designed to equip fitness professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to safely and effectively train children and adolescents, while ensuring exercises remain fun and engaging. The program focuses on enhancing youth athletic performance, including strength, endurance, balance, and overall fitness, using evidence-based strategies tailored specifically for younger age groups.

Program Objectives

The YES program enables trainers to:

• Understand the fundamentals of youth exercise science and apply them safely.
• Assess fitness levels of children and adolescents and identify individual needs.
• Design engaging, varied training programs that improve strength, endurance, and balance.
• Motivate youth to adhere to exercise routines and develop healthy habits.
• Support long-term physical and psychological development in children and teens.

Core Program Focus Areas

The program is divided into three main focus areas:

1. Youth Exercise Science: Study of physical, neurological, and muscular development in children and adolescents.
2. Youth Fitness and Training Guidelines: Safe training strategies, injury prevention, and performance enhancement.
3. Youth Client Program Development: Designing comprehensive, customized programs to improve fitness and overall health.

Program Content and Learning Methods

The YES program includes:

• 12 in-depth chapters covering all aspects of youth fitness training.
• Downloadable course manuals and training programs.
• A diverse exercise library specifically designed for younger age groups.
• Online quizzes to ensure understanding and practical application of the content.

Certification and Accreditation

The program provides 1.0 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) from NASM and is delivered fully online, accessible on all devices. It can typically be completed within 2–4 weeks, with up to one year to complete the final exam. Upon completion, trainers receive the NASM Youth Exercise Specialist (YES) certification, equipping them with practical tools to assess, train, and motivate youth effectively, while promoting long-term health and development.

Conclusion

The NASM Youth Exercise Specialist (YES) program is an essential professional step for any trainer working with children and adolescents. By integrating scientific knowledge with practical skills, trainers can create fun, safe, and effective programs that enhance fitness, athletic performance, and overall health in youth, while fostering sustainable healthy habits for long-term development.