How to Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach
From college athletics to the bright lights of the Olympics, strength and conditioning coaches guide athletes’ success. These coaches optimize performance through tailored exercise routines and injury prevention strategies. If you’re passionate about sports, fitness, and helping athletes win from behind the scenes, a career as a strength and conditioning coach can be fulfilling and lucrative.
“Beyond the fundamentals, a great strength and conditioning coach will recognize that the field is constantly evolving and will act as a lifelong learner striving to improve on the quality of their program design and coaching.”
—Blain Harrison, Instructional Associate Professor and Integrative Strength
Individuals who wish to pursue roles in exercise, fitness, and athletics need training in exercise physiology, nutrition, sports psychology, and more. An advanced degree in applied physiology and kinesiology demonstrates a commitment to learning and provides students with the technical understanding and hands-on experience needed to excel in their role. In this article, we will discuss what strength and conditioning coaches do, what skills help them succeed, and the steps they take to enter the profession.
What Does a Strength and Conditioning Coach Do?
These professionals enhance athletic performance by guiding athletes through physical training. Exceptional strength and conditioning coaches leverage a mix of technical health knowledge and interpersonal skills like communication and problem solving to ensure their players compete to the best of their abilities. The coaches assess each athlete’s physical condition, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. They then devise training programs tailored to the athlete’s needs. These regimens typically include strength training, cardiovascular exercises, and agility training.
Beyond developing training programs, strength and conditioning coaches are responsible for:
- Instruction and supervision: Demonstrating proper techniques and monitoring players to ensure they achieve the desired results.
- Performance improvement: Establishing metrics and strategies to improve endurance, speed, and power.
- Motivation and support: Creating an encouraging, goal-oriented environment to motivate individuals to reach their highest potential.
- Injury prevention and rehabilitation: Designing programs that minimize injuries and implementing rehabilitation programs for injured athletes.
- Team collaboration: Working with other coaches, nutritionists, and sports scientists to develop athletes and align training programs with team goals.
Important Skills for Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Strength and conditioning coaches rely on a combination of technical and interpersonal skills to excel in their role. Most coaches need to be well versed in health science and technology, program design and delivery, and a variety of interpersonal skills.
Health Science and Technology
A deep understanding of exercise science encompasses specialized topics, including:
- Exercise physiology: This specialization within kinesiology examines how the body responds to physical activity in the short term and adapts to exercise over time.
- Biomechanics: Understanding the function, movement, and structure of individual muscles, joints, ligaments, and bones, as well as how these individual systems interact enables coaches to devise appropriate performance and rehabilitation techniques.
- Injury prevention: Minimizing injuries requires coaches to understand the factors that contribute to injuries and implement corresponding strategies to keep athletes healthy and competitive.
- Sport psychology: Understanding the mental factors that impact performance helps coaches foster a positive mindset, improve focus, and increase resilience in their players.
Additionally, aspiring coaches should be familiar with fitness and performance testing equipment, as well as the software tools used for program design, data analysis, and record-keeping. Knowing how to operate advanced fitness machines, such as GPS fitness trackers, sprint timing gates, and force plates, is essential for assessing strength, power, and balance. Proficiency in software applications like TeamBuildr and EliteForm is also essential, as these tools allow coaches to create tailored programs, track athletes’ progress, and analyze performance data to encourage continuous improvement.
Program Design and Delivery
Program design targets each athlete’s needs and the demands of their sport. Effective program design will incorporate strength training, cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility and mobility exercises, and sport-specific drills. With holistic expertise in program design, coaches can target specific areas for improvement, prevent overtraining, minimize injuries, and boost performance.
Interpersonal Skills
While interpersonal skills can sometimes be overlooked, understanding how to communicate with and motivate athletes is crucial for all strength and conditioning coaches. Some of the interpersonal skills that these coaches rely on include:
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Leadership
- Organization
- Problem solving
Strength and Conditioning Coach Job Outlook and Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 9% job growth for all coaching roles from 2022-2032, which is much faster than the average for other occupations.
According to a recent NSCA survey, the average salary for strength and conditioning coaches is $60,527-$84,575 per year. Education level, certifications, geographic location, and other factors can impact how much individual coaches make.
How to Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach
1. Complete Educational Requirements
Most employers require a degree in exercise science, kinesiology, physical education, or a related field. Undergraduate education provides foundational knowledge in human anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and nutrition, while advanced education expands upon the fundamentals.
2. Consider Additional Certifications
The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is highly regarded in the field. To sit for the CSCS exam, you must hold a bachelor’s degree or be in your final year of a bachelor’s program. Additional certifications, such as Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) or Certified Sports Nutrition Coach provide additional expertise that can give you an advantage in the job market.
3. Gain Relevant Experience
Aspiring strength and conditioning coaches can gain vital experience during their education. Internships are a great place to begin, and many college athletic programs, professional sports teams, and reputable training facilities have internship opportunities. Volunteering or working part time at local gyms, high school athletic programs, or community centers can also provide practical experience and networking opportunities.
4. Pursue Advanced Education and Continuing Education
Pursuing a master’s degree in a related field, such as a Master of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology (APK) can open up more advanced opportunities and increase your knowledge and skills.
The University of Florida offers a holistic, relevant, and applications-based M.S. in APK program that is designed to equip future fitness professionals with the skills they need to succeed. Professor Harrison elaborates, “The coursework within the program provides students with the strong foundational basic science, exercise technique, and program design skills they will need to begin or grow a career in the field. It also offers opportunities for students to gain invaluable practical experience, prepares students to pass multiple certification exams, and encourages students to attend continuing education events.”
Beyond a master’s degree, strength and conditioning coaches should seek opportunities to continually update their skills and knowledge. While many professionals seek additional certifications and courses, enhancing your knowledge can also be as simple as reading up on the latest research or keeping up-to-date with podcasts and YouTube channels that cover relevant updates in the field. Visit our resources page to get started.
About the University of Florida Online M.S. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology
University of Florida’s online Master of Science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology (APK) was named a top 10 online master’s in exercise science by the OnlineU. UF’s M.S. APK is also ranked #12 on OnlineU’s annual ranking of “Most Affordable Master’s in Exercise Science Online” in addition to being on the best-value lists from Princeton Review, Forbes, Kiplinger, and the Fiske Guide to Colleges.
The M.S. APK is offered 100% online, and can be completed while working full-time. Students can finish the degree in as little as one and a half years, even while attending school part-time. The program features two optional specializations: Athlete Development and Integrative Strength and Conditioning Science. In addition, the APK program offers a broad selection of courses, including Biomechanics of Human Motion, Tactical Strength & Conditioning, and Ergogenics Aids.
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