Course Purpose

The primary purpose of the NASM Youth Exercise Specialist program is to equip fitness professionals with the competencies required to design, implement, and supervise structured youth exercise programs that promote physical literacy, athletic development, and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Drawing on NASM’s youth training guidelines and long-term athletic development principles, the course aims to reduce injury risk, improve movement quality, and foster positive psychological associations with physical activity during critical growth periods.

Delivery Mode and Learning Environment

The course is delivered fully online through NASM’s digital learning platform, allowing learners to access content across multiple devices. The self-paced format supports flexible learning while maintaining academic rigor through structured chapters, interactive learning materials, and formal assessments.

Digital delivery ensures learners can repeatedly review complex concepts such as growth plate considerations, neuromuscular development, and progressive overload adaptations specific to youth populations.

Duration and Study Commitment

• Typical completion timeframe: 2–4 weeks

• Maximum enrollment period: Up to 12 months

This extended access period reflects NASM’s educational philosophy, allowing professionals to fully integrate theoretical knowledge with practical reflection and real-world application.

Course Structure and Content Framework

The program consists of 12 chapters organized into three core pillars:

1. Youth Exercise Science

   • Growth and maturation, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular development

   • Motor skill acquisition and movement competency

   • Hormonal considerations and exercise implications

2. Youth Fitness and Training Guidelines

   • Evidence-based training for strength, endurance, balance, and power

   • Injury prevention, exercise selection, and load management

   • Progressive, age-appropriate training methods

3. Youth Client Program Development

   • Fitness assessments and goal identification

   • Design of engaging, developmentally-appropriate programs

   • Adaptation for skill levels, motivation, and long-term adherence

     Certification and Professional Recognition

     • NASM Youth Exercise Specialist (YES) Certification

     • 1.0 NASM Continuing Education Unit (CEU)

     Recognition of professional competency in safely and effectively training youth, aligned with internationally recognized NASM standards.

 Course Outcomes

1. Explain youth exercise science principles: Describe the physiological, neurological, and musculoskeletal development of children and adolescents, including implications for exercise programming.
2. Conduct youth-specific assessments: Assess the fitness levels and movement competency of children and adolescents using safe, age-appropriate evaluation methods.
3. Design developmentally-appropriate programs: Create structured, progressive training programs that enhance strength, endurance, balance, coordination, and overall physical fitness for youth.
4. Implement safe exercise strategies: Apply evidence-based guidelines to minimize injury risk and ensure proper technique during all training activities.
5. Adapt programming to developmental stages: Modify exercises and program intensity according to age, maturation, and skill level.
6. Motivate and engage youth clients: Utilize coaching techniques that foster enjoyment, adherence, and positive psychological associations with physical activity.
7. Promote long-term health and lifestyle habits: Support sustainable exercise behaviors, physical literacy, and lifelong wellness in youth populations.
8. Integrate practical and theoretical knowledge: Apply NASM principles to design comprehensive, client-centered programs that balance performance enhancement, safety, and engagement.