“So you’re a Strength & Conditioning Coach. Is that like a Personal Trainer?”
“What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a strength & conditioning coach”
“A what?!?!”
“A strength & conditioning coach”
“What does that mean?!?!”
“I train athletes for sports performance”
“Is that like a personal trainer?”
🙁
If I had a pound for every time I’ve had this conversation, I wouldn’t need to work another day in my whole life, ever again!
Strength & Conditioning (S&C) as a profession in the UK is still relatively new. An example of this is the fact The UK Strength & Conditioning Association (UKSCA) has only been in existence since 2004. Whereas, our friends across the pond in the US have had the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) running strongly since 1978!!!
It is therefore only natural for many people to not be aware of this profession in the UK. Especially those who aren’t involved in elite sport. So, the aim of this article is to explain what it is I do for a living and why I am trying to build awareness and understanding to those who aren’t involved in sport.
S&C is defined by the UKSCA as:
”The specialist area encompassing the physical preparation of athletes for performance in sport, while aiming to prevent or minimise the risk of injury. It includes processes that result in physical adaptation. Strength work involves all forms of resistance training. Equally the conditioning element can include work on agility, endurance, speed and flexibility and other areas, which can impact on the athlete’s performance. The definition of ‘performance-oriented’ athletes is taken to include all those who are continually striving to improve their own performances within a competitive environment.”
Similarly, the NSCA define S&C as:
”Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialists are professionals who practically apply foundational knowledge to assess, motivate, educate, and train athletes for the primary goal of improving sport performance. They conduct sport-specific testing sessions, design and implement safe and effective strength training and conditioning programs, and provide guidance for athletes in nutrition and injury prevention. Recognizing their area of expertise is separate and distinct from the medical, dietetic, athletic training, and sport coaching fields, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialists consult with and refer athletes to these professionals when appropriate.”
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In these definitions it is important to use the term “sport” loosely. Like every profession, S&C has grown, it has evolved, and it has developed.
- I’ve met S&C coaches who work in the military improving the statistics of lower back injuries in soldiers on the front line.
- I have met S&C coaches who work with astronauts to help get them in the best shape possible to reduce the amount of muscular atrophy and bone mineral density reduction whilst they are out in space.
- I have also met S&C coaches who work with the elderly population in order to prevent the incidence of falling.
Me, I’m an S&C coach who works with “athletes”. But, my definition of an “athlete” is anyone who has a goal they are striving to achieve. The Oxford Dictionary defines an “athlete” as “a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise”. I believe that anyone can be “competent or skilled in doing or using something (Oxford Dictionary definition of proficient)” with the correct coaching.
That is why I have “athletes” who are training for kickboxing, tennis, weight-loss, hip mobility post-surgery and Tough Mudder events etc…
We are all athletes. But, we are just at different stages on the spectrum of athleticism.
All the best,
Joe.
