An undergraduate aspiring to become a strength and conditioning coach should understand physiology, psychology and training.
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are as follows: Guidance And Counseling For Adolescents And Young Adults (study in this area helps you with the aforementioned mentoring responsibilities and opportuni- ties), Sports Administration (for a clearer picture of an ad- ministrator’s perspective on a broad spectrum of issues), Basic Computer Science (most of your programming, data collection and script progressions require at least minimal computer skills) and Sports Law And Litigation (this one just might save you a lot of trouble and embarrassment throughout your coaching career). Finally, continued updating in drug education is crucial. This includes the misuse of over-the-counter medications, abuse of illicit street drugs and alcohol, and illegal use of the ubiquitous forms of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). The graduate level versions of all these areas of study are more comprehensive and include a higher degree of lab work, demand intense research-oriented readings and are extremely heavy-handed with assigned written reports and manuscripts.
Earning Certifi cation Once you’ve been put through the fi res of academia,
certifi cation with a widely recognized, accredited organi- zation is the next step. At the collegiate and professional levels, doing so is requisite to attaining a position. In many cases, administrators at the high school and middle school levels also require both the appropriate degree em- phasis and certifi cation. Two of the most widely known and respected certifi ca- tions are through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association (CSCCa) and the National Strength and Con- ditioning Association (NSCA).
Gaining Field Experience
At some point during your preparation, a position as an intern or volunteer coach is a requirement. In most under- graduate and graduate programs, an academic internship for credit hours is dictated in the curriculum. My recom- mendation is to include volunteer hours as your schedule permits. This affords you the opportunity to network and at-
14 May/June 2013
Ken Mannie, head strength and conditioning coach at Michigan State University (East Lansing, Mich.), trains some of the best athletes in college sports. Go to
coachad.com and read the digitial edition of this issue for a video highlighting the Spartans' winter workouts.
coachad.com
tain additional hands-on experience that helps you become more marketable when you’re ready to pound the pavement in search of a full-time coaching position. Upon receiving your bachelor's degree, you may decide to go right into a high school position or search to obtain a graduate assistant position so as to achieve a MS degree and potentially a full-time position at the collegiate level. As far as the collegiate situation is concerned, you must understand that the job market is fl ooded with applicants for all positions—interns, graduate assistants and full-time staff. So be prepared for the competition that awaits you. Education, certifi cation, fi eld experience, networking, a persevering attitude and presenting yourself as a knowl- edgeable, caring coach must be part of your resume to even open a door for an interview.
Another obstacle you must face in working with a
NCAA football program is the recent “5-man rule,” which permits only fi ve strength and conditioning coaches—re- gardless of intern, graduate assistant or full-time status— working with the football team in strength and condition- ing activities at any given time. This mandate has put a damper on staffi ng opportunities, especially internships and graduate assistantship programs.
Striving To Help Others
The basic construct of leadership in any endeavor is ce- mented with respect, trust, courage and integrity. Without this vital foundation, no organization or team can withstand the onslaught of challenges that must be faced on a daily basis. Leadership and mentorship cannot be overstated as responsibilities of educators and coaches.
The strength and conditioning coach can be a viable in- strument in this process if he or she chooses to do so. In my opinion, this profession is one of the truest forms of coaching. A sign above my offi ce desk refl ects this with the heart- searing words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Life’s most per- sistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” It is a question that all coaches should ask themselves every day.
Michigan State Winter Workouts
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