As adults, we are at the bottom of a steep hill and struggling to move when it comes to youth development. The landscape is bleak and only tiny pockets are making steps toward bettering it for our future generations. Why do I say that? Well, pick your poison:
The above list just scrapes the surface of the myriad of issues facing our youth. Now, I’m not going to sit here and say that the fix is easy. But I do believe there is a fix. I believe the fix starts with ALL stakeholders getting out of their silos and getting into the same boat. Not only do we all need to be in the same boat, but rowing in the same direction. This means that sport coaches, PE teachers, parents, strength & conditioning coaches, and everyone in between understand that we are all on the same team, trying to do what is best for the young people we serve.
We need to agree that the long-term is more important than the now and that growth/development occurs non-linearly. With this in mind, a plan or roadmap needs to be followed by all stakeholders. One that can be used and shared across all fields. A program that can be adapted to fit the needs of the children within it. Most importantly, this program needs to be vertically aligned and developmentally appropriate.
Lastly, we all need to recognize that NON-physical development that comes with sport, physical activity, exercise, training, etc. There is so much by way to teamwork, cooperation, character development, self-awareness, and self-regulation that occurs naturally in these environments. We all need to have access to tools and resources that can help us cultivate these skills.
Not only do we all need to be in the same boat, but rowing in the same direction.
This is certainly a tall order and one that many will find daunting. But what if I said one such program already exists? The Athlos Movement & Character Program is a one-of-a-kind movement and performance character program for the holistic development of your youth. Designed to be used across all stakeholders, in a “as prescriptive as desired” fashion. The AMAC program is rooted in Long-Term Athletic Development and emphasizes the recognition of a series of 12 specific Performance Character Traits.
The coupling of a high-quality movement curriculum with resources to cultivate Performance Character, the AMAC program is a roadmap to developing well rounded young people that are active, fit, efficient movers, who routinely demonstrate sound Performance Character. The AMAC program is tailored to help our youth find success and reach their potential by building confidence, competence, and the motivation to maintain those traits for life!
I encourage you to JOIN THE MOVEMENT to get access to tools, resources, and plans that can help us get up the steep hill in front of us and provide a better landscape for our youth!
CLICK BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ATHLOS MOVEMENT & CHARACTER PROGRAM!
Statistics from:
- Aspen Institute State of Play
- President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention