BASIC TRAINING: Infinity Fitness and Sports Institute views our training model as a Pyramid no matter what age, gender and or desired sport or activity. All buildings, whether a home or skyscraper, are built from the ground–up. We feel that building an Athlete is no different. Typically "Formal" training is not necessary and or cost effective for such a young child athlete. We feel it is better done in a common group or team with no more 10:1 ratio depending on the skill of the athlete and the skill the trainer is teaching.

Over the past ten years there has been a shift from the three-sport athlete to the one sport athlete. Training for one sport has now become a constant year round process. Because of this, problems arise because the body never really rests and therefore athletes are acquiring over-use syndromes resulting in injuries or even shortened careers, all of which could have been prevented with the right kind of trainers and training.

We define "Basic Training" as first educating the athlete in the arena of exercise, teaching them the proper form and technique with all aspects of exercise. This includes and is not limited to basic anatomy of the body and its function, breathing, posture, body alignment during exercise, foot/body wear and hydration to name a few.We as trainers and coaches alike cannot force physiology and the development of a child, but we can guide and encourage athletic development within safe and appropriate parameters of training. IFSI also believe that "no pain, no gain" is a poor methodology of getting results. With this mind set, it can be very harmful and costly to the young athlete. We find that athletes at such a young age need to work on less sport specific exercises and focus more on developing their level of athleticism as a whole, not just focusing on speed, agility and/or quickness

Children have been lifting weights since they were born. The first thing they lifted was their extremities through primitive reflexes. The first thing they lifted intentionally was their head. This was the heaviest mass and the most un-proportioned thing an infant will ever lift and they do it with proper guidance and support. We view weight training for children the same way, it needs to be guided and supported by qualified trainers. Weight training cannot be a rushed nor forced like the lifting of an infants head. It is a guiding, supporting, learning and teaching process that needs to be purposeful, safe and fun.

Weight training guidelines for children that IFSI uses:

• Start when the child is entering sports
• Always have qualified supervision
• Always get clearance from a medical doctor
• Always hydrate plenty before you train and after
• Have sun block on at all times if outdoors
• Have proper foot/body wear
• Always have a baseline physical assessment prior to starting the program.
• Always have goals of the trainer and athlete that are explained and agreed upon prior to starting
• Always revisit the goals and set new realistic goals
• Always warm up the body properly prior to training
• Always report any pain or discomfort with any activity