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Strengthening Young Athletes' Minds and Bodies for Success On and Off the Field

⁕Sports Performance ⁕Injury Prevention ⁕Movement Analysis ⁕Post Rehab

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Kristen Gostomski, CFSC

B.S. Health and Sports Science

Hi I’m Kristen Gostomski—former athlete, now strength coach, researcher, writer, and injury prevention consultant.

My interest in sports science and functional movement began while in high school, after a serious knee injury sidelined me from sports. Today, with my education and experience in the areas of sports performance and injury prevention, I’m confident that I could have avoided the injury or at least have come back from it stronger than I did.

I played sports during the early '90s before the science of sports performance training had evolved. Some of today's coaches from that generation of athletes follow the same out-dated methods used back then to train today's athletes. I believe it’s important for athletes, parents, and coaches to make informed decisions about the exercises both included and excluded in training routines. Performing non-functional exercises, even performing functional exercises incorrectly can put athletes at more risk than not training at all.

For more than two decades I have studied the science of sports performance and have learned from and collaborated with some of the most trusted strength coaches and sports physical therapists in the industry.

Preparing your body properly for sports is equivalent to wearing a seatbelt while riding in a car. Although there is no guarantee a seatbelt prevents injuries from happening, being prepared lessens the risks and can decrease the severity if there is an injury.

Kristen's Degrees and Certifications

Bachelor’s Degree from University of Iowa in Sports and Health Studies

Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC)
High School Strength & Conditioning Specialist Certification from the International Youth Conditioning Association
Graduate of The Institute for Integrative Nutrition
Former Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), Kristen allowed this certification to expire while focusing on research and writing. While still an active member of the NSCA, rather than recertify, Kristen has chosen to expand her knowledge by continuing her education specifically in functional and youth sports performance.

Kristen's Experience

(1998) Strength & Conditioning Coach for Olympic Sports Internship under Head Coach Bill Maxwell: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

(1998—2000) Personal Training Director: New Life Fitness World, Coralville, IA

(2000—2003) Director of Sports Performance: Fitness World West, Des Moines, IA

(2003—2015) Owner & Founder: Team Fitness, Gemini Personal Training, and R Studio

(2015—present) Owner & Founder: Youth Sports Trainer

Kristen's Additional Coursework

Long Term Athletic Development: The Lifelong Roadmap (International Youth Conditioning Association)

Sturdy Shoulder Solutions: with world renowned baseball sports performance coach Eric Cressey

Functional Strength Coach 7: with Michael Boyle (known internationally for his pioneering work in the field of Strength & Conditioning)

Olympic Lift Course: (International Youth Conditioning Association)

 Resources for Parents, Athletes, and Coaches

Exercise Library

Learn functional exercises for Improved Performance and Injury Prevention.

Sports Nutrition

Learn what athletes should eat to fuel their bodies and improve performance on game-day.

The Colossal Importance of Free Play

Learn why less free play plus more structured training, a current trend, negatively impacts the long-term development of young athletes.

The Risks of Early Sports Specialization

Learn why early sports specialization equates to overuse injuries, burnout, and a decline in athleticism.

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