What is Strength & Conditioning

What is Strength & Conditioning?

Strength & Conditioning, also known as S&C, is a training protocol typically used by Athletic Trainers or S&C Coaches to enhance their Athletes’ physical performance on the field. This includes highly advanced movements that require a strong foundation of athletic skills.

S&C is the practical application of sports science to athletes training to develop:

1. Speed, Strength, and Power through the use of different training principles.
2. A structured & detailed training program is planned for the entire seasonal cycle (Off-season, On-season).

What does an S&C Coach do?

Strength & Conditioning coaches have two primary goals. First is to:

Enhance the athletic performance, which usually means improving the speed, strength & power of the athlete.

• Develop periodized training programs for both individuals & teams while keeping an association with the game coach
• Safe & effective teaching of Olympic lifting techniques
• Specific supervision & motivation of the athletes while they workout
• Performance assessment before & after the training program (Progress monitoring)

The second primary goal is to:

• Reduce the risk of injury by incorporating sessions on mobility, and functional and mechanical screening into their programming cycle as needed
• Monitor the athletes’ general health and wellbeing. e.g., providing nutritional advice or referring them to a Sports Nutritionist if needed.

What does it take to be an S&C Coach?

The term Strength & Conditioning and S&C Coach are being wrongly interpreted by many without understanding what exactly these terms mean or do.

Being an S&C Coach is not an easy job to do. It requires a complete in-depth understanding of Human Anatomy, the Biomechanics of sports movements, the ability to train any athlete not just physically but mentally as well, and provide basic nutrition guidance according to the energy systems being involved in their pieces of training & sports.

As the sports industry is evolving, we can see so many young people stepping up to become S&C coaches. But as already said above it is not an easy task to handle, especially for people who don’t have an exercise/sports science or biomechanics educational background.

Instead of jumping directly into the field of S&C as a coach, it is a better option to start your educational & coaching journey with ACE Certification. ACE Certification provides you with a very strong foundation of understanding of Human Anatomy, biomechanics, and energy systems which will help you to pursue an S&C course with ease.