Thursday, December 4, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
TIP FROM THE TRENCHES
As found in Scholastic Coach - Ken Mannie, Michigan State University Head Strength Coach
Book report: An outstanding educational piece on youth fitness – According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (Hedley, A.A., et al, JAMA, 2004), childhood obesity has tripled to a prevalence of greater than 15% in the past few decades. This dilemma is due, in large part, to poor lifestyle choices that include decreased physical activity, an increase in “sedentary entertainment” (i.e., video games and inordinate hours of television viewing) and the ubiquitous fast food market. The exponential result of this “eat more, move less” mentality is that approximately one in seven children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from overweight issues or obesity.
Enter a new text entitled Youth Fitness: An Action Plan for Shaping America’s Kids written by two experts (and fathers of young children) with decades of experience and highly-respected acumen in the strength and fitness field, Matt Brzycki and Fred Fornicola. This book is an extremely well-written, easy to follow, and comprehensive training guide earmarked specifically for children and adolescents. The chapters within cover a wide-range of current topics including a well-formatted explanation of the working musculature, proper flexibility mechanics, aerobic fitness, key strength training principles, the use of non-traditional training implements, developing healthy dietary habits, and designing and administering fitness tests.
I highly recommend this timely youth fitness guide and labor of love to everyone who works with young people in the physical education and sports arenas, as well as to parents who want to foster healthy lifestyle behaviors in their children. You can find it at www.amazon.com.
Ken Mannie (mannie@ath.msu.edu)
Book report: An outstanding educational piece on youth fitness – According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (Hedley, A.A., et al, JAMA, 2004), childhood obesity has tripled to a prevalence of greater than 15% in the past few decades. This dilemma is due, in large part, to poor lifestyle choices that include decreased physical activity, an increase in “sedentary entertainment” (i.e., video games and inordinate hours of television viewing) and the ubiquitous fast food market. The exponential result of this “eat more, move less” mentality is that approximately one in seven children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from overweight issues or obesity.
Enter a new text entitled Youth Fitness: An Action Plan for Shaping America’s Kids written by two experts (and fathers of young children) with decades of experience and highly-respected acumen in the strength and fitness field, Matt Brzycki and Fred Fornicola. This book is an extremely well-written, easy to follow, and comprehensive training guide earmarked specifically for children and adolescents. The chapters within cover a wide-range of current topics including a well-formatted explanation of the working musculature, proper flexibility mechanics, aerobic fitness, key strength training principles, the use of non-traditional training implements, developing healthy dietary habits, and designing and administering fitness tests.
I highly recommend this timely youth fitness guide and labor of love to everyone who works with young people in the physical education and sports arenas, as well as to parents who want to foster healthy lifestyle behaviors in their children. You can find it at www.amazon.com.
Ken Mannie (mannie@ath.msu.edu)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Latest Reviews....
"Youth Fitness: An Action Plan for Shaping America's Kids" is now available on all on-line book stores as well as the Youth Fitness webpage. Below are the latest reviews and comments that are on the Amazon.com site
Make it Part of Your Plan, September 29, 2008
By T. A. Deckebach (Glenside, PA)
"As an elementary educator and parent of a young teenager, I am very interested in the factors that contribute to the health and well-being of young people. Brzycki and Fornicola have created a handbook that is appropriate for parents, educators, coaches and teens themselves. The authors provide an excellent balance of background information (with sections like "What is Fitness?" and "Poor Nutrition = Poor Health") and true "action planning", as the title suggests. There are clear directions for simple exercises (with accompanying photos), sample workout schedules, and tips for weight management.
I'm thrilled to have purchased such a helpful book for my son. I also bought a copy for my daughter's elementary school and my son's track coach. There are so few quality resources on this topic, it's a must for any adult who cares about youth fitness."
Another Winner, September 26, 2008
By Steve Bibbo (Forked River, NJ USA)
"This is the second book by these two that I have and they certainly don't suffer from the sophomore jinx. Normally, books aimed at child fitness ether come across as too "preachy" or way too technical. This is a very good blend an simple and straight-forward concepts for children and their parents to follow. I can't wait for their next collaboration."
What America needs..., September 24, 2008
By Tom Kelso (St. Louis) - See all my reviews
"Wow! This book is exactly what America needs! Child obesity rates rising, declining scholastic physical education programs and outright laziness permeating our Country's youth. Simple guidelines to get our FUTURE leaders off their butts, moving and actually enjoying physical exercise. Way to go, Matt and Fred!"
Make it Part of Your Plan, September 29, 2008
By T. A. Deckebach (Glenside, PA)
"As an elementary educator and parent of a young teenager, I am very interested in the factors that contribute to the health and well-being of young people. Brzycki and Fornicola have created a handbook that is appropriate for parents, educators, coaches and teens themselves. The authors provide an excellent balance of background information (with sections like "What is Fitness?" and "Poor Nutrition = Poor Health") and true "action planning", as the title suggests. There are clear directions for simple exercises (with accompanying photos), sample workout schedules, and tips for weight management.
I'm thrilled to have purchased such a helpful book for my son. I also bought a copy for my daughter's elementary school and my son's track coach. There are so few quality resources on this topic, it's a must for any adult who cares about youth fitness."
Another Winner, September 26, 2008
By Steve Bibbo (Forked River, NJ USA)
"This is the second book by these two that I have and they certainly don't suffer from the sophomore jinx. Normally, books aimed at child fitness ether come across as too "preachy" or way too technical. This is a very good blend an simple and straight-forward concepts for children and their parents to follow. I can't wait for their next collaboration."
What America needs..., September 24, 2008
By Tom Kelso (St. Louis) - See all my reviews
"Wow! This book is exactly what America needs! Child obesity rates rising, declining scholastic physical education programs and outright laziness permeating our Country's youth. Simple guidelines to get our FUTURE leaders off their butts, moving and actually enjoying physical exercise. Way to go, Matt and Fred!"
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Hot Off the Presses
Great news, the new Youth Fitness: An Action Plan for Shaping America's Kids book is now available through , Youth Fitness Action Plan.com, Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The YOUTH FITNESS ACTION PLAN Newsletter
Get your free copy of The YOUTH FITNESS ACTION PLAN Newsletter by subscribing today.
The first issue is scheduled for October 1, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Fred Fornicola - Youth Fitness Interview on Super Human Radio
Carl Lanore, host of Super Human Radio discusses the health concerns of today's youth with fitness professional, Fred Fornicola. This is a show all parents should listen to.
Friday, September 5, 2008
A Quick "Youth Fitness" Update
I just spoke with the printers yesterday and I was told that Youth Fitness: An Action Plan for Shaping America's Kids is scheduled to ship the week of September 16th. Anyone interested in placing a pre-order, please visit our website.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Table of Contents - Chapter 1
1. The Future is Now!
Benefits
Youth Fitness: Past and Present
What is Fitness?
Nike is Right
The Fab Five of Fitness
- Flexibility
- Aerobic Fitness
- Strength
- Recovery
- Proper Nutrition
Correcting the Problem
The School Environment
The Home Environment
Before Moving Ahead
Table of Contents - Chapter 2
2. The Muscles and How They Work
Common Joint Movements
The Major Muscles
Hips
Gluteals
Adductors
Iliopsoas
Upper Legs
Hamstrings
Quadriceps
Lower Legs
Calves
Dorsi Flexors
Torso
Chest
Upper Back
Shoulders
Upper Arms
Biceps
Triceps
Lower Arms
Forearms
Abdominals
Rectus Abdominis
Obliques
Transversus Abdominis
Lower Back
Erector Spinae
Neck
Neck Flexors
Neck Extensors
Trapezius
Final Thoughts
Common Joint Movements
The Major Muscles
Hips
Gluteals
Adductors
Iliopsoas
Upper Legs
Hamstrings
Quadriceps
Lower Legs
Calves
Dorsi Flexors
Torso
Chest
Upper Back
Shoulders
Upper Arms
Biceps
Triceps
Lower Arms
Forearms
Abdominals
Rectus Abdominis
Obliques
Transversus Abdominis
Lower Back
Erector Spinae
Neck
Neck Flexors
Neck Extensors
Trapezius
Final Thoughts
Table of Contents - Chapter 3
3. Enhancing Fitness through Flexibility
Benefits
Flexibility Factors
Anatomical Analysis
Methods of Stretching
Static Stretching
Active Stretching
Passive Stretching
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
Ballistic Stretching
Dynamic Stretching
Unsafe Applications
Unwanted Loading
Undesirable Positions
Unintentional Stress
Stretching Safely and Effectively
Stretching Strategies
Performance Points
Stretching the Lower Body
The Lower-Body Sequence
Stretches for the Lower Body
Standing Calf
Kneeling Tibia
Sitting Groin (or “Butterfly”)
Lying Quad
Knee Stack
Lying Hamstring
Lying Glute
Stretching the Upper Body
The Upper-Body Sequence
Stretches for the Upper Body
Neck Forward
Neck Backward
Lateral Neck
Posterior Shoulder
Anterior Shoulder
Pec Stretch
Single Tricep
Benefits
Flexibility Factors
Anatomical Analysis
Methods of Stretching
Static Stretching
Active Stretching
Passive Stretching
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
Ballistic Stretching
Dynamic Stretching
Unsafe Applications
Unwanted Loading
Undesirable Positions
Unintentional Stress
Stretching Safely and Effectively
Stretching Strategies
Performance Points
Stretching the Lower Body
The Lower-Body Sequence
Stretches for the Lower Body
Standing Calf
Kneeling Tibia
Sitting Groin (or “Butterfly”)
Lying Quad
Knee Stack
Lying Hamstring
Lying Glute
Stretching the Upper Body
The Upper-Body Sequence
Stretches for the Upper Body
Neck Forward
Neck Backward
Lateral Neck
Posterior Shoulder
Anterior Shoulder
Pec Stretch
Single Tricep
Table of Contents - Chapter 4
4. Conditioning for Aerobic Fitness
Benefits
FITT Principles
Frequency
Intensity
Time
Type
Additional Considerations
Progression
Records
Variety
Assessing Aerobic Fitness
Benefits
FITT Principles
Frequency
Intensity
Time
Type
Additional Considerations
Progression
Records
Variety
Assessing Aerobic Fitness
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