Youth Performance Coach Certification
Help young athletes build skills, confidence and a lifelong love of sport. Learn what keeps kids playing, plan coaching that fits their age, work well with parents, and keep young athletes fueled, healthy and safe.
- Lifetime certification
- 100% online and self-paced
- Open-book online exam
- AADP accredited
Or 6 monthly payments of $71 with our in-house plan, no credit check. Everything you need to study and certify.
Enroll now- Course manual and video lessons
- Coaching plans for young athletes
- Working with parents
- Digital and printed certificate
- Coaching Business Builder included free
Secure checkout through NESTA, the parent company of the Spencer Institute.
Kids aren't miniature adults
A 7-year-old and a 14-year-old need very different coaching. Young athletes' bodies, minds and emotions are still developing, so great youth coaching means understanding child development, motivation and how to keep training safe and fun.
As a Certified Youth Performance Coach, you'll help young athletes learn skills that last, build confidence and resilience, and find a real passion for sport, so they stay active long after the season ends.
Built for anyone who coaches young athletes
Open to new and experienced coaches, with no prerequisites.
Personal trainers
Trainers moving into youth sports and athletic development.
Team and club coaches
Coaches who want age-appropriate methods and a positive team culture.
PE teachers and youth leaders
Educators and mentors who lead kids in sport and activity.
Parents and volunteers
Parent coaches who want to do it right from day one.
What you'll learn
- Why kids take part in sport, and how to keep them engaged
- The different ways coaching happens with young athletes, and how coaching has evolved
- The pressure to win on young athletes and their coaches
- Early sport specialization and its consequences
- How to develop coaching plans for young athletes
- How parents see coaches, and where the line between parent and coach sits
- How to support participation in positive, constructive ways
- Nutrition for growing athletes, and how to spot signs of poor nutrition
- How coaches influence how athletes eat, including sports with weigh-ins or appearance pressure
- How to talk with parents about their child's nutrition
- How injuries happen, how to help prevent them, and how to respond
- How physical, social and psychological factors affect injury and recovery
Inside the course: 6 lessons
- 1Youth Sport Participation
An introduction to youth sport and performance coaching.
- 2Why Kids Play
What drives participation, types of coaching, the pressure to win and early specialization.
- 3Developing Coaching Plans
Learning to plan coaching that fits young athletes.
- 4Coaches and Parents
The parent–coach relationship, setting boundaries, and nutrition for young athletes.
- 5Nutrition for Young Athletes
Building strong athletes, spotting nutrition problems and talking to parents.
- 6When Participants Get Injured
How injuries happen, how to prevent them, and how to manage athletes when they do.
Coach young athletes the right way
What you'll learn to plan for:
- Coaching for each age
- Types of coaching
- Coaching plans
- Pressure to win
- Early specialization
- Keeping kids engaged
Work as a team with parents
Keep young athletes healthy, fueled and safe:
- Parent–coach boundaries
- Communicating with parents
- Nutrition for growing athletes
- Weigh-in and appearance sports
- Injury prevention
- Recovery from injury
Coaches keep young athletes safe and refer injuries, health concerns and nutrition issues to parents, doctors and other licensed professionals.
Build your coaching career
The Spencer Institute has introduced the Coaching Business Builder, included free with your certification to help you launch and grow your practice.
- 90-Day Career Starter Workbook
- Comprehensive Coach Pricing Guide
- Marketing strategies to attract clients
- Additional growth tools and ongoing updates
Everything you need to know
| Format | 100% online training and exam. Study on any device, at your own pace. |
|---|---|
| Study time | About 20 hours, self-paced. Most students finish in 3–4 weeks. |
| Prerequisites | None. |
| Course materials | Course manual and video lessons, with short quizzes along the way, covering youth participation, coaching plans, parents and coaches, nutrition and injuries. |
| Exam | 50 multiple-choice questions, taken online and non-proctored, with a 120-minute time limit. Open book: you can use your course materials and notes. You need 70% or higher to pass. Three attempts included, with instant results. A $95 retest fee applies if all three attempts are used. |
| Certificate | Digital certificate as soon as you pass. A printed certificate with an official seal is mailed free within North America in 2–4 weeks. International students are welcome; additional shipping fees apply. |
| Certification term | Lifetime. No renewal required. |
| Course access | Lifetime access to your training materials. |
| Continuing education | Approved for ISSA 20 CEUs, NESTA 2.0 CEUs, Spencer Institute 2.0 CEUs, ITCA 2.0 CEUs and MMACA 2.0 CEUs. |
| Accreditation | Accredited by The Certification and Accreditation Board of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). See our accreditations. |
Become a Certified Youth Performance Coach
Everything is included: online training, exam, digital certificate, printed certificate and the Coaching Business Builder.
- Pay once, start today
- Lifetime certification
- Digital certificate as soon as you pass
- 6 payments of $71
- Payments are 30 days apart
- Includes a one-time $30 processing fee ($426 total)
- No credit check
3-day money-back guarantee. If the course isn't right for you, let us know within 3 days, subject to our policy guidelines.
Secure checkout through NESTA. NESTA is the parent company of the Spencer Institute, so your order is processed on NESTA's secure online store.
Results we've helped create
An excellent program for building a strong foundation and beginning your career in the wellness industry.
NESTA and the Spencer Institute have become my go-to for one-stop education and certifications. The courses are affordable, and the education is priceless, especially with such an extensive list of course offerings.
Great platform for learning about wellness and personal training.
Questions about the Youth Performance Coach Certification
Is this program accredited?
Yes. All Spencer Institute courses are accredited by The Certification and Accreditation Board of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). The course is also approved for continuing education by ISSA (20 CEUs), NESTA, ITCA and MMACA. See our accreditations.
What does a youth performance coach do?
A youth performance coach guides, supports and teaches young athletes using methods that fit their age and development. You help kids enjoy sport and stay in it, work with parents, and keep young athletes healthy and safe, in teams, clubs, schools or one-on-one.
Do I need any experience or prerequisites?
No. The course is open to new and experienced coaches and trainers.
How long does it take?
About 20 hours of study, at your own pace. Most students finish in 3–4 weeks, and you keep lifetime access to your training materials.
How does the exam work?
The exam is 50 multiple-choice questions, taken online, with a 120-minute time limit. It's open book, so you can use your course materials and notes. You need 70% to pass, you get three attempts, and you see your results instantly. If all three attempts are used, a $95 retest fee applies.
Does the certification expire?
No. The Youth Performance Coach Certification is a lifetime credential with no renewal required.
Can I pay monthly?
Yes. Choose our in-house 6-month payment plan at $71/mo (6 payments, including a one-time $30 processing fee, for $426 total) with no credit check, or pay over time with Affirm at checkout.
Can international students enroll?
Yes. The course and exam are 100% online. Your digital certificate is issued as soon as you pass, and your printed certificate is mailed free within North America. International students are welcome; additional shipping fees apply.
Why does checkout say NESTA?
NESTA is the parent company of the Spencer Institute. All Spencer Institute courses are sold through NESTA's secure online store, so you'll see the NESTA name at checkout. Your training, exam and certification all come from the Spencer Institute.
What if the course isn't right for me?
Every course comes with a 3-day money-back guarantee, subject to our policy guidelines.
Ready to coach the next generation of athletes?
Start today and study at your own pace, with lifetime access to your training materials.
Questions? Call 1-877-348-6692 or send us a message.