Confidence is one of the most important parts of youth development. But confidence is often misunderstood. Many think confidence is something you simply “give” a child. Praise them. Encourage them. Tell them they’re good.

One of the hardest things for young athletes—and parents—to understand is this: Development is not fair. Not because effort doesn’t matter. But because biology has its own timeline.

Box jumps are more than just jumping onto a box. When used correctly, they develop force production, landing mechanics, reactive strength and athletic power. In this article, we break down how AYC uses seated box jumps, broad jumps, drop jumps and depth jumps to build better jump mechanics, improve speed transfer and develop stronger, more explosive young athletes.

Why stopping well might be the most important athletic skill young athletes can develop

Agility ladders don’t make athletes agile - but they can be a powerful tool when used correctly. In this article, we break down what ladder drills actually develop, the science behind them, and how to maximise transfer into real sport through sprinting, reacting and game-based movement.

Mini hurdles are more than just a jumping tool. When used effectively, they develop reactive strength, landing mechanics, coordination and multi-directional force production — all essential for young athletes. In this article, we explore the science behind hurdle hops, why multi-directional movement matters, and how to use them to build stronger, faster and more resilient athletes.

When we think about athletic development, many people immediately think about sport-specific skills. Footballers should practice football. Swimmers should swim. Tennis players should hit tennis balls. Makes sense, right? Not always. At AYC, we see athletic development differently. Before a child becomes a footballer, swimmer, rugby player or gymnast… they are a mover first. And movement is a language. The bigger the vocabulary, the better the athlete. Building the Movement Li

One of the biggest mistakes in youth sport is expecting progress to happen in a straight line. Train hard. Improve fast. Keep improving.

One of the biggest trends in youth sport today is early specialisation. Children are choosing one sport earlier than ever. Football all year. Swimming all year. Gymnastics all year.

Physical Literacy: The Real Goal Before Performance In youth sport, we often focus on performance first. Winning games. Scoring goals. Running faster. Jumping higher. But before any of that… comes physical literacy. At AYC, physical literacy sits at the centre of everything we do. Why? Because physical literacy is the foundation of athletic development. And without it, performance has limits. ⸻ What is Physical Literacy? Physical literacy is more than movement. It is the comb

What is Athletic Development? When people hear the word “athlete,” they often think of elite sport. Fast. Strong. Powerful. Competitive. But athletic development starts long before that. And it applies to every child. At AYC, athletic development is not about creating professional athletes. It’s about helping children build the physical tools to move well, perform better and stay active for life. That’s an important difference. Because before sport-specific skill… comes movem

Your Home for Evidence-Informed Youth Athletic Development Welcome to the AYC Learning Hub—an online resource designed for anyone passionate about helping children and young athletes move better, develop confidently and reach their full potential. Whether you’re a coach, teacher, parent, sports club or student, the Learning Hub provides practical, research-informed content that bridges the gap between science and coaching. Our goal is simple: To make high-quality youth athlet