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Building a Career as a
Strength and Conditioning Coach:From University to Employment
Careers in Sport and Exercise Science/Performance, Durham University,
9th April 2008
Dave Cripps, BSc, MSc, CSCS
Moseley Rugby Football Club
INTRODUCTION
• What is a strength and conditioning coach?:
Someone who bridges the gap between sport science
theory and applied coaching to provide support to athletes
and teams.
Implement a structure to develop individuals
physiologically and physically using a sport specific
approach, to promote optimal sport performance
• Who employs them?
- Professional sports clubs
- National governing bodies
- Private companies
WHAT DO I DO?
• Team training – Warm up/cool down, conditioning drills,
fluids, monitor
• Matchday – Warm up/cool down,
fluids, oversee, assist!
• Strength training – Implement individualised programmes
and coach
• Nutrition – Implement individualised programmes
• Monitoring – Track changes in body composition,
strength training loads and fitness
My other relevant experiences:
• Strength and conditioning support to elite and amateur: rugbyreferees, university scholar athletes, junior tennis players, rugbyplayers, football players, track athletes and triathletes
• Visits to a number of professional sports clubs and organisationsto spend time with coaches and athletes
• Physiological support to elite and amateur athletes: rugby,swimming, track and field, triathlon and basketball players
• General coaching experience in schools and at sport clubs
My key qualifications:
• BSc (hons) Sport Science and MSc Exercise Physiology
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
(QUALIFICATIONS)?
Undergraduate degree in
related sport science
disciplines (usually
minimum 2:1)
HSE approved full first aid
certificate
NSCA CSCS or UKSCA
accreditation
Postgraduate degree in related
sport science disciplines (MSc,
MPhil, PhD)
Additional coaching awards
(Governing body coaching
awards
Additional professional awards
(BWLA and possibly BASES
SE and accreditation)
Essential Desirable
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
(EXPERIENCE)?
2-3 years experience of providing a range of strength and conditioning support to athletes and/or teams
This should include work within different sports
Working alongside coaches and other support staff
Experience providing
strength and conditioning
support to elite/high
performance athletes
Including work with teams as
well as individuals/small
groups
Work with national teams/
athletes
•Experience of providing
support during travel
Essential Desirable
WHAT KIND OF PERSON DO YOU NEED TO
BE?
Personality:
- Confident - Motivational
- Innovative - Sociable
Qualities:
- Excellent communicator - Team player
- Work under pressure - Problem solve
Background:
- Played competitive sports
MISCONCENPTIONS AND MISTAKES OF
STUDENTS
• A degree/degrees alone qualify you
• There are no experience opportunities
• Not appreciating the importance of applied coaching skills
• Not gaining experience early enough
• Not thinking about and looking into your career early enough
WHAT IS THE REALITY?
• Very difficult to find any experience
• Little help from current professionals
• Voluntary basis
• Covering your costs
• Very frustrating
HOWEVER…
• Real opportunity to learn how to
apply sport science
• Development of skills and
knowledge
• Build contacts and network
• Make a real difference and work with great people!
HOW DO I GAIN EXPERIENCE AND FIND
WORK THEN?
• Email and write to every strength and conditioning coach at a
club/organisation within your travelling area
• Enquire about internships at clubs/organisations, many are
not advertised
• Contact clubs/organisations/individuals who maybe interested
in your services (local sports clubs and athletes)
• Search the web (UKSport, BASES, UKSCA, EIS, Jobs.ac.uk,
clubs and organisations)
• Network: attend conferences, keep in touch with contacts, get
your name known!
CONCLUSIONS
• Submerge yourself in strength and conditioning, read key texts
and the latest research, it’s a world away from university!
• Start gaining experience ASAP! Its hard to find but be
determined and opportunities will open
• Get a full first aid certificate and once prepared, book a place for
either an NSCA CSCS exam or begin UKSCA accreditation
• Network, let as many people in the field know who you are!
• Arrange visits and attend conferences, seminars and workshops
KEY ORGANISATIONS, WEBSITES AND
AUTHORS
• UKSport.gov.uk
• BASES.org.uk (British Association of Sport and Exercise Science)
• NSCA.lift.org (National Strength and Conditioning Association)
• UKSCA.org.uk (Uk Strength and Conditioning Association)
• Jobs.ac.uk
• EIS2win.co.uk (English Institute of Sport)
• PPonline.co.uk (Peal Performance Online)
• Periodization Training for Sports (Bompa and Carrera,2003)
• High Performance Sports Conditioning (Foran et al., 2001)
• Supertraining (Mel Siff, 2003)
• Any other texts/research by: Vern Gambetta, Mel Sif, Tudor Bompa,
Vladimir Zatsiorsky, Gray Cook, Paul
Gamble, Dan Baker, Tim Gabbett,
Mark Kovacs and others