The PFS ECross Kids® Instructor Course is a comprehensive professional programme designed for people who want to deliver safe, structured and engaging fitness sessions for children and teenagers.
The course is delivered through cooperation between ProFi Fitness School and LD Sports Academy – ECross Kids. It combines specialist knowledge of youth physical development with practical teaching methods, exercise progressions and ready-to-use tools for introducing an ECross Kids programme within a gym, sports club, fitness centre or other professional setting.
Participants learn how to adapt exercises to different ages, abilities, spaces and equipment. The programme also covers communication with children and parents, lesson planning, movement development and the practical organisation of youth fitness services.
What is ECross Kids?
ECross Kids is a functional training method created specifically for children and teenagers. It supports the development of fundamental movement patterns, coordination, mobility, strength, endurance and speed through structured, progressive and enjoyable activities.
The method is based on six key training principles:
effective cross-training,
adaptability and scalability,
multi-joint and functional movement,
appropriate exercise priorities,
whole-body development,
fun and positive participation.
The programme allows instructors to create engaging sessions for different age groups while maintaining appropriate exercise selection, progression and safety.
What you will learn
During the course, you will learn:
the principles of training children and adolescents,
the stages of physical development,
essential elements of youth exercise physiology,
how to assess participants and recognise basic postural considerations,
how to develop fundamental movement patterns,
how to improve coordination and conditional abilities,
how to teach strength, endurance, speed and mobility appropriately,
how to create safe, structured and engaging ECross Kids sessions,
how to adapt exercises to different ages and ability levels,
how to use games as part of the training process,
how to organise circuits, timed sessions, ladders and other class formats,
how to demonstrate, explain and correct exercises,
how to communicate effectively with children and parents,
how to plan training for a specific period,
how to establish and promote a youth training programme within your professional setting.
Requirements
Participants should have an interest in fitness, movement, coaching or youth development.
A fitness, sport or coaching qualification is recommended but is not required to begin the course.
To complete the programme, participants must:
attend or watch all required lessons,
study the provided materials,
complete all course assignments,
submit the required assessment videos,
successfully pass all four examinations.
Before working professionally with children, graduates are responsible for meeting any safeguarding, vetting, insurance and professional requirements applicable in their country or workplace.
Who is the course for?
The programme is suitable for:
fitness instructors,
personal trainers,
sports coaches,
strength and conditioning coaches,
professionals already working with children and teenagers,
Sport and Exercise Science graduates and university students,
instructors who currently work with adults and want to gain a youth fitness specialisation,
people interested in developing professional knowledge of fitness training for children and teenagers.
Previous professional experience with children is not required to begin the course.
Garda Vetting Requirements
You do not need Garda Vetting to enrol in or complete the PFS ECross Kids® Instructor Course.
During the practical training, adult participants will work with one another and practise the roles of instructor and participant. Children will not be involved; therefore, Garda Vetting is not required to attend or complete the course.
However, after completing the course, you must have the appropriate Garda Vetting in place before using your certification to coach or work directly with children.
If you will be working for a gym, fitness facility, sports club or other organisation, they should arrange Garda Vetting for you.
If you intend to coach children independently through your own business, contact the Garda National Vetting Bureau at GNVB.Registration@garda.ie.
Independent coaches may be asked to provide:
Company name and business address
Contact person’s name
Telephone number
Information about the business
Details of the planned coaching activities involving children
Please note: Completing the PFS ECross Kids® Instructor Course does not replace Garda Vetting. Graduates must not begin working directly with children until the necessary Garda Vetting and all other applicable safeguarding requirements are in place.
Duration
The programme is delivered over approximately two months and combines live online learning with recorded lessons and independent study.
The course includes:
four live online lessons,
two Saturday morning sessions,
two Tuesday evening sessions,
access to recordings from the day following each live lesson,
approximately two weeks of study and practical preparation between live sessions,
access to a dedicated online learning platform.
The exact dates and times are provided for each course edition.
Course modules
Module 1 – Training Children and Adolescents
bilateral training,
stages of physical development,
principles of youth training,
children’s exercise physiology,
participant history and evaluation,
basic postural considerations,
introduction to the ECross Kids method.
Modules 2–3 – Coordination Skills
balance,
reaction,
movement adaptation,
rhythm,
spatial and time orientation,
movement coupling,
kinaesthetic differentiation,
hand-eye coordination,
practical coordination exercises.
Modules 4–5 – Physical Abilities and Movement Chains
strength,
endurance,
speed and rapidity,
mobility,
balance between muscle chains,
pushing and pulling movements,
core exercises,
leg exercises,
cardiovascular activities,
the six principles of the ECross Kids method.
Module 6 – Teaching Skills
exercise description and demonstration,
observation and correction,
participant safety and assistance,
teaching methods,
the ECross Kids Instructor’s Decalogue,
recommended equipment,
lesson structure,
short- and long-term programme planning.
Modules 7–8 – Lesson Planning and Games
circuits,
AMRAP sessions,
timed training,
ladder formats,
work and recovery intervals,
agility and strength activities,
the role of games in youth training,
lesson preparation,
instructor self-evaluation,
introduction to food and nutrition education.
Modules 9–10 – Exercises and Progressions
fundamental pushing, pulling, core, leg and cardiovascular exercises,
exercise tutorials,
teaching and learning progressions,
mobility exercises,
conditioning workouts,
running and movement challenges.
Modules 11–12 – Assessment and Practical Application
progress tests for children’s classes,
the ECross Kids Performance Table,
animal walks,
practical lesson planning,
creating sessions for different age groups.
Included materials and support
Participants receive:
access to live online lessons,
recordings available through a dedicated learning platform,
technical and study materials,
the ECross Kids technical manual in digital format,
ongoing support through a WhatsApp or Telegram group,
a ready-to-use first ECross Kids lesson,
an initial four-week training programme,
an instructor operational checklist,
a practical guide to different age groups,
a guide to common mistakes in youth training,
a promotional mini-kit for presenting the programme,
the manual “How to Build a Dedicated Youth Training Department”,
an exclusive live session with programme creator Dr Luca Dutto.
Exam
Exam
The programme includes four assessments:
1. Theory Examination
An online knowledge quiz covering the main theoretical content of the programme.
2. Physical Examination
Participants record and submit videos demonstrating the physical exercises specified in the course.
The physical assessment may include:
skipping,
mobility exercises,
handstand and headstand progressions,
push-ups and pull-ups,
rope climbing,
forward and backward rolls,
knee-to-chest exercises,
a ladder workout,
a 2,000-metre run.
A minimum of 10 points is required to pass the physical assessment.
3. Teaching Examination
Participants submit a video demonstrating their ability to:
explain and demonstrate exercises,
organise a structured session,
apply appropriate teaching techniques,
maintain safety,
adapt activities to the selected age group.
4. Communication and Promotion Examination
Participants prepare an elevator pitch promoting their ECross Kids programme to children and parents.
The assignment may be submitted as:
a short video,
a social media post,
an Instagram Story,
another approved promotional format.
All assessments must be successfully completed before certification can be issued.
Certification
After completing all modules and successfully passing the required assessments, participants will be eligible to receive the:
PFS ECROSS KIDS® INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE
The programme is delivered through cooperation between ProFi Fitness School and LD Sports Academy – ECross Kids.
The certificate confirms that the participant has demonstrated the knowledge and practical skills required to plan and deliver structured ECross Kids sessions for children and teenagers.
Please note that the certification fee is not included in the course price.
Garda Vetting Requirements
You do not need Garda Vetting to enrol in or complete the PFS ECross Kids® Instructor Course.
During the practical training, adult participants will work with one another and practise the roles of instructor and participant. Children will not be involved; therefore, Garda Vetting is not required to attend or complete the course.
However, after completing the course, you must have the appropriate Garda Vetting in place before using your certification to coach or work directly with children.
If you will be working for a gym, fitness facility, sports club or other organisation, they should arrange Garda Vetting for you.
If you intend to coach children independently through your own business, contact the Garda National Vetting Bureau at GNVB.Registration@garda.ie.
Independent coaches may be asked to provide:
Company name and business address
Contact person’s name
Telephone number
Information about the business
Details of the planned coaching activities involving children
Please note: Completing the PFS ECross Kids® Instructor Course does not replace Garda Vetting. Graduates must not begin working directly with children until the necessary Garda Vetting and all other applicable safeguarding requirements are in place.
Price
Payment
The course fee is €399.
The fee includes:
live online lessons,
access to recorded lessons,
access to the online learning platform,
study and technical materials,
support during the programme,
manuals and operational resources,
examinations included within the programme.
The certification fee is charged separately and is not included in the course price.
A place on the course is confirmed only after registration and full payment have been received.
