The wise say those situations build strength in which we want to give up but continue. A Strength and Conditioning Coach is a trained fitness professional who motivates, supports and guides athletes, teams and individuals at varying levels of expertise to meet the challenges of becoming stronger, perform... Continue Reading
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What are the typical responsibilities of a Strength and Conditioning Coach?
A Strength and Conditioning Coach would typically need to:
Your work environment can vary from indoors or outdoors at gyms and fitness centres on college and university campuses to those used by professional sports teams and amateur or beginning athletes. You may work with teams of multiple athletes or individual clients. Sessions could be on a group or one-to-one basis and in-person or online. The surfaces you work on to coach athletes may be grassy or made of concrete or hardwood. The temperature and air quality may vary depending on whether you coach your students outdoors or in a gym.
Since Strength and Conditioning Coaches often work with teams, they may be able to train athletes on the team’s training ground, or the team may hire grounds suited to their sport. If you offer individual training sessions to non-athletes, you may need to source facilities that provide strength & conditioning equipment.
Your workday may include home or site visits as needed. Travel with teams or athletes to games is likely, resulting in time away from home. You must stay patient and flexible and be capable of working independently and calmly even when the atmosphere is fast-paced, competitive, stressful and noisy during tournaments with athletes under pressure to perform at their best.
Given the nature of their work, Strength and Conditioning Coaches work full time, around 40 hours a week. However, if professional sports teams hire you, you must follow their schedule and season and put in long hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
Finding a new job might seem challenging. Strength and Conditioning Coaches can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.
Strength and Conditioning Coaches are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organisations, such as the International Association of Strength and Conditioning (IASC), are crucial for Strength and Conditioning Coaches interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.
Any academic program that a potential Strength and Conditioning Coach takes up typically requires a period of supervised experience, such as an internship that teaches you about the field and gives you experience in diverse clients, areas and skills. An internship can help a Strength and Conditioning Coach learn more about the field, gain experience in various settings and fulfil the specific team or facility’s needs.
You will gain optimal benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it. You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.
Volunteer when possible, even in other health and fitness roles, to strengthen your coaching ability and demonstrate your passion and initiative to learn about your enthusiasm and initiative for strength and conditioning coaching.
Experience playing a particular sport may also be valuable for employers seeking to hire you for athletes or teams specialising in the same sport.
Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in strength and conditioning coaching to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. From observation, you can learn how they teach technique, lead and manage the floor and athletes, and develop, write and implement their programs.
The minimum qualification for aspiring Strength and Conditioning Coaches is a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, exercise physiology, kinesiology or a related field. The program will likely comprise coursework in biology, anatomy & physiology, biomechanics and nutrition, kinesiology and athletic training and teach students how to use an evidence-based approach to achieve their goals. Depending on the course offerings at your college or university, you may be able to specialise in strength and conditioning coaching.
While some high schools may hire candidates with an associate degree in a relevant field, other employers may prefer candidates with a master's degree.
However, keep in mind that employers typically seek not merely a degree but excellence achieved in the program, particularly to demonstrate your thorough grasp of what you learned and your initiative and attention to detail.
Coaches at the college level must be familiar with any rules and regulations stipulated by local, regional or national authorities concerning student-athletes, basic medical terminology, and diverse fitness and strength training equipment.
Certification demonstrates a Strength and Conditioning Coach's competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and allow you to become an independent consultant.
Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.
S&C Coaches must typically possess certification in delivering first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and using an AED (automated external defibrillator).
National bodies in relevant fields may offer credentials in strength and conditioning coaching or related areas, such as performance enhancement, physical training and sports medicine, to aspiring S&C Coaches or those looking for career progression.
Certification in strength and conditioning coaching will typically enable you to coach a range of clients, from professional athletes and teams to weekend warriors. Typically, you must fulfil specific criteria, including age, education and possessing health & safety or other fitness credentials. You may choose from various options for private certification, which may be variable and may not necessarily follow a standard. Some may require a written exam, while others may also test practical skills.
Consider acquiring the online ISSA Strength and Conditioning Coach credential from the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). The course is self-paced and offers a comprehensive experience and a free exam.
Although there is no standardised and mandatory licensure requirement for S&C Coaches that demonstrates their competency, it is advisable to check with local or national strength and conditioning coaching organisations to find whether and what kind of licence you might need. For instance, if you coach students at high school, you will likely need a valid teacher’s or substitute teacher’s licence. Typically, individual government entities conduct the licensing process, which requires an application, processing fees, an examination, and relevant education and experience.
An employment background check can include but is not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.
Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years.
There are several avenues of advancement that Strength and Conditioning Coaches may choose from. Typically, you would start as an Assistant Coach, learning and working under the guidance of senior coaches. With experience, you could become Head Coach, a role with greater responsibility and flexibility.
A typical career path while training professional athletes or teams is to progress from coaching athletes at the local level to regional, and onward to national and international, and, if possible, the highest level of the Olympics.
At a sports facility, you may rise to become General Manager in Training, Director of Training, Wellness Director, Club Manager or Director of Facilities & Operations. As you gather more experience and build a solid reputation, you could also find a role at a larger sports centre or gym or with a more prestigious program or team.
You may also build your expertise in a niche, tailoring strength and conditioning programs to a specific sport, age group, competitive level or training program.
Certification is an effective way of furthering your career as it qualifies you to take on a wider variety of clients.
Experienced Strength and Conditioning coaches may also apply their knowledge, skills and experience to become teachers and assessors, training others to become S&C Coaches.
Candidates with the necessary skills, experience, and a master’s degree in relevant fields have the best job prospects.
Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Strength and Conditioning Coach build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to continually upskill, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge, and stay current with the latest developments in the industry.
You may demonstrate continuing education (CE) through various avenues, such as internships, college-level courses and personal development, as well as first aid and fitness certifications.
On-the-job training helps newly hired coaches familiarise themselves with the specific needs of individuals and teams and how to use the equipment that the training facilities offer.
The study of kinesiology, or the scientific study of body movements, will help you advance your career. However, taking the initiative to educate yourself in areas related to strength and conditioning above and beyond your bachelor’s and master’s degrees is also essential. For instance, postgraduate certification in human movement & sports science would place you as an expert in the field. Other credentials, courses, conferences, workshops, seminars, symposia and webinars help you grow in skills and knowledge and bring you into contact with successful S&C Coaches from whom you can learn successful techniques and the latest trends and technologies.
The personal study of relevant literature and books, site visits, trying out program planning and design and perfecting the exercise routines and movements that you will have your clients perform all help you develop yourself professionally.
Networking with other training coaches, athletes and people in the sports industry by attending conferences and industry events and using networking websites is also crucial to finding and making use of developmental and job opportunities.
It also counts if you contribute to the development of the field through presentations, publications and voluntary or committee work.
RAMP Warm-Up
Developed by Ian Jeffreys, Professor of Strength and Conditioning at the University of South Wales, UK, the RAMP warm-up helps athletes prepare their bodies for performance not just for an immediate purpose but for long-term development, for which it must be factored into every training session. RAMP is an acronym that stands for raise, activate, mobilise and potentiate.
Periodised Training
Periodisation is the methodology of structuring training around periods that progressively load an athlete with training stress, following them up with rest periods. Typically, periodised training is based on macro, meso or micro cycles. The methodology is based on the fact that adaptation improves fitness. Intensive training tears muscle fibres, which heal when you rest and recover, thereby allowing muscle to rebuild and better handle future stress. When you train hard, you tear your muscle fibres; when you rest and recover, those fibres heal, rebuilding the muscle so it can handle similar stress in the future. What produces the adaptation that leads to strength is not the training itself but the subsequent rest period.
Athletic Trainers vs Strength & Conditioning Coaches
With thorough knowledge of their client’s bodies and health, probably even more than the athletes themselves, athletic trainers are trained and skilled to evaluate their clients and recommend whether there is a need for them to see a doctor or other healthcare professionals. They help prevent, examine, diagnose and rehabilitate various levels and forms of injuries by designing and executing appropriate recovery and treatment protocols and strategies to optimise wellbeing, health and performance.
Athletic trainers work in diverse settings ranging from educational to healthcare and armed forces to the performing arts. They may provide rehabilitation services in collaboration with a physical therapist or Strength and Conditioning Coach to return individuals to perform their sport, activity or daily life activities confidently, usually and with strength. They may also certify in both athletic training and strength and conditioning coaching to make it easier to manage clients’ needs and return to play.
Certified Strength and Conditioning Coaches apply scientific knowledge and principles to optimise their clients’ strength and endurance and, thereby, their athletic performance. They plan and implement personalised, safe and result-oriented programs that also factor in advice on preventing injuries and taking care of nutrition. They may work with teams or individuals, helping them maintain fitness levels and to prevent injury. An area of deep focus is movement quality as related to performance and risk of injury. Although it overlaps with personal trainers, Strength and Conditioning Coaches provide advanced training to their students in Olympic weightlifting, strength training, plyometrics, speed and agility, mobility, core stability, and endurance. The RAMP warm-up is a critical component of each training session for better performance and long-term benefits. Another crucial component of a strength and conditioning program is periodised training.
Personal Trainer vs Strength & Conditioning Coach
Certified personal trainers work in health clubs or fitness centres, helping clients get in shape, most often through one-on-one lessons. They carry out sport-related testing and tailor programs to fulfil their client’s particular needs and goals, such as weight loss, muscle-building or overall conditioning and taking care to prevent injuries. A session typically comprises exercise, nutritional guidance and motivation. Personal trainers assess their clients’ progress and modify the program to avoid plateaus. They must also be skilled in working with clients who have special needs, such as those suffering from obesity or reduced mobility.
In general, certification standards for Strength and Conditioning Coaches are more rigorous than those for personal trainers, and the diversity of clients they can work with is also greater. Personal trainers typically work with the general public, while Strength and Conditioning Coaches are qualified to train the general public, athletes and teams. They may also choose to specialise in an area or age group, for instance, youth sports. However, while a personal trainer can deliver sessions at regular gyms and facilities, Strength and Conditioning Coaches require specialised equipment, such as Olympic lifting platforms and plates.
Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment
Freelancing Strength and Conditioning Coaches have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.
On the other hand, a full-time Strength and Conditioning Coach has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.
When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
The Pros & Cons of Online Training
Savings in travel time and costs are a significant advantage of online training for both the coach and the client. Without the need to go to the gym, there may be greater flexibility and autonomy in scheduling or changing lessons independent of gym timings. Sessions may be more regular and may also be possible to continue even when clients are away on holiday, provided they have access to equipment. Payments can be regulated and made promptly. Recording sessions makes it easier for the coach to review and improve lessons or share them on a paid or unpaid basis. Clients can follow instructions from earlier sessions if available, which is impossible in physical lessons.
However, your equipment at home is likely to be limited, and you may not have a specific item you need. Furthermore, watching you on screen, the coach may find correcting your more minor and less noticeable mistakes harder. You would need to invest in the appropriate tools and gadgets, but if the internet connection on both ends is not stable and strong, the lessons can be wasted due to poor sound or visibility. Finding the right volume of voice to be audible to the client can prove tricky, and too much background noise may also distract the coach or the client. The personal touch may feel absent, and the rapport may be less than in a face-to-face lesson. The client’s concentration may suffer during a class due to their surroundings, and their motivation and discipline to schedule lessons may also be insufficient. Added screen time may act as a deterrent and prove a cause for headaches.
Strength and Conditioning Coaches are invaluable assets to professional teams and athletes, sports departments in educational institutions and amateur sports persons. Equipped with scientific knowledge and expertise and the skill to motivate others, these professionals help build a healthy sports culture and improve their clients’ abilities, development and performance, paying utmost attention to their physical and psychological needs, goals, health and safety.
Walk the talk. You will inspire greater confidence in your abilities and priorities if you maintain your fitness and direct your clients toward strength and conditioning. Appear confident but not superior. Be consistent in following your plan but also versatile and adaptable enough to suit the varying needs of your athletes, teams or coaches you work with and any unexpected situations that may arise.
Strength training & long-term load-bearing exercise boost bone density and combat osteoporosis. The pressure on bones from gravity, muscular contractions, and resistance exercise builds calcium deposits.
What do Strength and Conditioning Coaches do?
A Strength and Conditioning Coach would typically need to:
Accredited
$46,835
