Why I hate this industry...

Before I get started, bear in mind that I love my career. Nothing offers me more satisfaction than seeing young athletes learn and succeed. However, our industry is currently being speculated for a monumental collapse. A collapse that can be blamed on the industry itself and most importantly, an industry that is becoming more eager to get its hands on children and young athletes in an attempt to draw funds from a niche that could potentially deter an inevitable implosion.

The internet has created a wealth of information available to the general public but, with that information comes the misuse of that power. The internet has made ergogenic aids available to teenagers, spiking the use of substances like steroids for young men and women around the country.

Furthermore, the internet has become nothing more than a vehicle of deception as our industry has become more like organized gambling than anything related to health and fitness.

**In organized gambling, you hand someone money and typically, they hand you back nothing in return.

Instead, what people are getting back for their dollar are an ever rising rate of obesity, heart disease, cancer, and other health related issues. Supplement companies are making billions off of poor souls that have typically exhausted most of their options, buying products that have the potential to create more disease than they can prevent.

Additionally, the marketing approach for our industry has been nothing short of pure genius. The health and fitness industry is the only venue where the more money you spend, the less you get.

Here is a comparison:
1. Increased dollars for AIDS research and education = new medications that can prolong life in HIV infected patients and non-incarcerated patients with HIV in the U.S. have leveled off in number.

2. Increased dollars for alternative fuel sources = Hybrid cars, tax breaks for alternative energy users, fuel cells that run on water, E85 ethanol, electric-run cars, and more gas-efficient automobiles.

3. Funding for the space program from 1950-2007 = Teflon, Velcro, computer technology, cell phones, DVD's, and other technological marvels that we occasionally take for granted.

Our industry receives 5-billion dollars per year for youth training. 18-billion dollars get spent on gym memberships for kids. The supplement industry--yep, you guessed it! They make billions as well. The result is more people turning away from our trade. Major health clubs are now fighting bankruptcy, "sports performance" franchises are going out of business just as fast as they are opening, and over 400 different certifications are clouding educational standards for practicing professionals. It has become so ridiculous that many of these "sports performance" entities are now resorting to hosting birthday parties at their facilities to keep the doors open. As for certifications, the final straw was when I saw an advertisement for a "Strollercize" certification. That's right, our industry actually has a certification for trainers to do workouts with mothers pushing strollers.

Personally, after receiving more than 6 years of education, another 6 years of experience in the industry, and I currently lose business to health club quality trainers, high school football coaches, and former professional athletes that know nothing about pediatric exercise science.

The last and final reason as to why I hate our industry boils down to the potential benefits that a quality professional can offer. Every high school football coach in the U.S. thinks they know something about strength training. High schools now make large sums of money off of running summer speed and agility camps, which are nothing more than running kids to exhaustion for 6-weeks during their summer break. These high schools typically don't want our help. Recently, 2 outstanding physicians, a nutritionist, and myself, spoke on topics like supplementation, injury prevention, steroids, and strength training to a large, Chicago-area school. Only one coach showed up for this free, public service event.

Secondarily, parents spending money on the American Sports Machine have become more focused on what they want, instead of what their children need. Many parents are more than satisfied spending as much as $2,000 dollars for a travel team and another $1000 dollars on travel and equipment instead of seeking out a health professional to help aid in the athletic development of their child. Ironically, many of the parents spending these large amounts of dollars are doing so to make sure their child receives a college scholarship. In the end, the amount of money they spend on all the travel teams and equipment can nearly equal the amount they would have to pay on a college education. Even more ironic, college and professional organizations are now beginning to pass on these kids that participate in these pay-for-play, competitive, travel teams. These kids have become health liabilities and psychological calamities as that large number of games and stress lead to early burnout amongst these children.

Sadly, the industry and the people involved have gotten so out of hand that it is hard to distinguish what sport really is in this country.

My girlfriend, a former Division-1 volleyball player, was frequently called "fat" along with her teammates after a poor performance. This volleyball club is supposed to be one of the premier volleyball clubs in the country.

The first athlete I ever worked with, a 16 year old football player in Upstate NY, fractured his back after lifting in his high school weight room without supervision, instruction, or even enough space for what he was doing at the time. The came to me following his surgery and rehabilitation when he didn't want to work out at his high school anymore. I'm ashamed to say that I'm a member of this school's alumni.

Recently, I worked with a 10 year old girl that nearly had her hip flexor torn off the bone after participating in a Frappier Acceleration program featuring a high speed treadmill. She was placed in a program with athletes that were 16 and 17 years old.

Yesterday morning, a group of little leaguers said that their health teacher told them that consuming carbohydrates was bad for them and would make them fat.

Sadly, in only 6 years in this industry I have accumulated hundreds of anecdotes about how awful our young athletes are currently being treated.

Personally, I will still continue to work with athletes, educated parents and coaches, and continue to write about matters concerning our nation's youth. However, the manner in which our industry has conducted its business has left the average person reeling in disgust at our trade. Therefore, as of today, I'm turning my back on the marketing guru's, premier trainers, sports performance franchises, and all others that continue to run this industry into the ground.

As for the quality professionals practicing in our country today, professionals that have truly dedicated their lives to the betterment of our youth, I want to say thank you for making a difference.

Will Haskell, YCS II, ACE
Athletic Development Specialist