Sign up for our Spring 2025 Classes
Step 1: Choose the appropriate program based on the child’s age range and description (below).
Step 2: Register your young athlete on a desktop at www.yad.fliipapp.com
download instructions
*If you only want to purchase DROP-IN SESSIONS you can, just click drop-in and you will only be billed for one session. Then pick the class you want to drop into. Don’t forget to select the class as all classes require pre-registration.
Step 3 (do this later): Download the free Fliip App at google play or Apple.
STEP 1: Choose the appropriate program
Trailblazers Program - 50min
Participants, ages 7-9 or grades 2-5, will learn foundational movement skills that are integral in all sports through fun-inspired games.
Physical literacy is the bedrock of physical development, but the element of play must coincide with exposures to motor skills.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will be introduced to the fundamental motor skills & movement patterns required for future development of sport skills: Throwing, Running, Catching, Jumping, Crawling, Hinging, Squatting, Carrying, Pushing, Pulling, Hopping, Galloping & Rolling
Development of strength using gamified calisthenics.
Basic sports tactics comprehension such as pass and cut, how to get open and shadowing on defense.
Development of intrinsic motivation, through self-determination theory (autonomy, problem solving & competency) and age-appropriate goal-setting.
Ascenders Program - 55min
Participants, ages 10-13 or in grades 6-8 will begin to learn the basics of more ‘structured’ training but with the theme continuing to be ‘fun with a purpose.’
Adjustments will be made to accomodate the various stages of maturation & physical development of this varied age group.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will be exposed to modified combatives to improve body awareness, & learn body postures and positions required for later stage strength & power development.
Participants will also be exposed to oscillatory drills building reactive capacity in tissues for injury prevention and begin to build competency in loaded movements patterns.
Conditioning (general endurance) will be addressed through non-conventional means to keep athletes engaged.
They will also be introduced to scenario-based read and react drills that assist with decision-making in sport.
Futures Program - 60min
Participants in our Futures Program are ages 14+ or grades 9-12. Boys and girls will train seperately.
Participants will learn to create levels of tension & will be exposed to power breathing techniques necessary for high levels of strength & power development.
Methods will be scaled to the level of the learner and dependent on their previous background and experience.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will refine and intensify fundamental movement skills and movement adaptability in different scenarios.
Participants will build very high levels of work capacity through barbell complexes, deep tier plyometrics and combative partner drills; they will also improve ankle and foot stiffness through well-coached plyometric drills.
General sport IQ will also be of focus through the application of invasion games/drills to refine decision making and reaction ability to visual stimulus in a chaotic environment.
Step 2: Look at the Program Schedule below & pick a class.
Then go to https://yad.fliipapp.com/
Here are downloadable instructions to follow along, step by step.
Our Young Athlete Development Program Directors
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Carmen Bott
Director of Coach Development
Hi fellow parents. I am a Co-founder of YAD and it’s always been my goal to offer top development to my athletes. I am an experienced performance coach - meaning I have extensive training in physical education, sport science, coaching and mental performance.
I also know I cannot do this alone and I have assembled a very powerful team of specialists. I value the unique and rare combination of practitioner - one that can think like a scientist, but one that can practice like a ‘coach.’
Qualifications matter a great deal and those providing guidance to children and youth must be adequately trained - as the director of Coach Development for YAD, you have my word, that this team is highly skilled and very competent at what they do and have the track record to show it.
“A good coach never sits idle”
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Curtis Armstrong
Director of Athlete and Parent Relations
Hi everyone. I’m also a co-founder of YAD. I’ll share my philosophy: I always meet the athletes where they are at as a coach. Understanding who they are and what motivates them provides the foundation I operate from. I believe instilling in them that their opinion matters and that they matter, not just as an athlete but as a person first and foremost is critical as this is so often overlooked. Once they know this, creating an environment where failure and taking chances is welcomed and embraced is easy.
From there I simply guide their focus towards unlocking their potential, through drills that challenge them and expose their areas of improvement pushing them further each session.
“The sky is truly the limit.”
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Robbi Basran
Director of Sport Rehabilitation
Hi everyone, I am a physiotherapist in the Tri-cities. I have always been extremely active and participated in numerous sports growing up. My passion has always been soccer and I won a national championship with
the Capilano University Men’s Soccer team. I am also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and thus recognize the importance of optimal strength and movement patterns in the
mitigation of future injuries. I am part of this team to assist in orthopedic evaluations, corrective exercise & individualized service.My treatment philosophy involves a combination of manual therapy, exercise and movement re-education to restore full, pain-free function. I
focus on bridging the gap between rehabilitation and return to sport.Injury risk mitigation and rehab are all parts of being an athlete and I am here to educate on these aspects at YAD.
OUR 4 PILLARS:
Movement competency & movement adaptability set the Foundation.
Movement competency is the ability to perform movement tasks efficiently and consistently, understanding how the body moves in space. Fundamental movement patterns and motor skills need to be developed with a level of competency before load and speed are added. All athletes want speed and power - First, we learn to move well and be adaptable. Movement adaptability is the ability to build on a given movement/motor skill, and manipulate the plane, velocity, load and stability without losing quality or consistency of the movement.
Resiliency is a Behaviour.
At ‘YAD’ our focus around resiliency is holistic. First, the body must be able to withstand the rigors of sport and must be conditioned to tolerate the demands. This is tissue resiliency. Second, we believe exposing athletes early on to receiving and managing feedback help build mental resiliency. This heightens self-awareness and accountability and other intangible skills like emotional regulation which are important not only in sport, but in a young athlete’s life. Our coaches combine the physical and mental aspects to achieve a truly balanced resilient mind-body spirit.
Transparent & Measurable Learning Objectives for every age group
The science and practice of developing young athletes should not be viewed as separate disciplines. Rather, they are critical and complementary elements of the long-term athletic development process. Our curriculum and movement targets are highly refined to each age group and level of development within each group. Our coaches will provide feedback & educational materials throughout the programs to parents outlining the concrete objectives in motor skill acquisition. We are here to develop young athletes, not simply make them ‘tired and sweaty.’ Every athlete has potential to grow and improve and our job is to help them.
A Champion Mindset is a Learner Mindset.
Athletes in our programs will be strongly encouraged to be ‘daily learners.’ They will be directed to focus on the ‘process’ and seeking mastery. Sport psychology research illustrates this mindset creates higher levels of intrinsic motivation. Our coaches set a high bar because we believe that everyone can rise to that level. We hold our participants and ourselves to a high standard. Growth in all aspects cannot occur without exposure to stress, overcoming adversity as an individual, or as a group; this is a vital part of life and will be a staple of our programing. Research shows us that embracing the learning process and comprehension instead of comparison to peers is linked to better performance.
We also have a team of coaches (Kinesiology grads), a sports nutritionist, a mental performance specialist and an advisory council with a very high pedigree in physical education and athlete development…bios coming soon…
OUR METHODS ARE GROUNDED IN SCIENCE.
Location of YAD classes:
Terry Fox Secondary - 1260 Riverwood Gate
I’m interested but want to learn more
If you are a parent or guardian, a sport coach or team manager and would like a meeting to enquire about our services, please just let us know and we will send you a booking link to meet with us virtually.
“The most effective strength & conditioning programs for young athletes involves highly skilled coaching. Given the unique developmental changes that young athletes will experience as they progress from childhood, through adolescence and eventually into adulthood, we have to consider many factors to optimize the training response. Children & youth are not adults and require specialized training to address their unique needs. You will never see the term “Elite’ in these programs.
— Coach Carmen Bott, 30+ year veteran S&C coach and Professor of Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University