Running a Strength Training and Conditioning Facility

Recruiting and Staffing

Staffing a strength and conditioning facility is a high priority to ensure effective assistance for athletes in attaining their strength and conditioning objectives for their particular sport. The management, owner, or recruiter who is hiring training staff for the facility should consider the following criteria:

• Applicants should have a degree from an accredited university or college in exercise science or related coursework that highlights exercise physiology, human anatomy, biomechanics, nutrition, exercise prescription, sport psychology, and kinesiology. The National Strength and Conditioning Association has adopted an Educational Recognition Program that provides a list of institutes that meet or exceed these requirements. A bachelor of science (BS) degree is an excellent start for any person who is seeking a career as a strength and conditioning coach; a master of science (MS) degree is preferred by recruiters.
• Personnel with degrees in exercise science or related disciplines should have a minimum of 4 years of coursework and practical application through internships and practicum requirements. Many of these courses, as well as hands-on experience, prepare them for secondary certifications. All strength and conditioning coaches must be certified to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and to use an automatic external defibrillator (AED). Professional certification organizations requiring continuing education as well as adherence to codes of ethics will increase the credibility of a strength coach's candidacy. The most widely recognized certifying bodies are accredited through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), American Council on Exercise (ACE), and National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) are among the recognized certifying agencies that strength coach candidates should seek out for credibility. Each organization has different scopes and specialties, so the strength coach seeking additional credibility should research the agencies from which he or she is seeking certification.
• Strength coaches have greater credibility when they have aligned themselves with other health professionals to create what the NSCA calls a “performance team.” This is when a candidate or staff has been teamed with other fitness professionals whose specialties complement the specialties of others on the team. For example, a performance team may include a strength coach, nutritionist, athletic trainer, massage therapist, and team physician. This team will help the athlete achieve greater results, especially if the common goal is increased athletic performance and decreased propensity to injury. A dynamic staff with complementary skill sets not only helps the facility to run smoothly but also, by its comprehensive expertise, can prevent the occurrence of incidents that could result in personal injuries and consequent lawsuits.

Staffing Hierarchy and Responsibilities

The staff hierarchy in strength and conditioning facilities is usually different from that of public fitness centers. Apart from the performance team, the staff in the strength and conditioning facility includes a head strength coach, one or more assistant strength coaches, and student coaches or interns. The head strength coach is responsible for all exercises that are implemented to improve the strength and conditioning of the athletes and all other facets of the facility. Some of those facets include, but are not limited to, scheduling the athletes’ training times, developing staff skills, delegating staff to athletes and teams, setting up staff hours and responsibilities, keeping open the channels of communication with the performance team and [Page 1241]team coaches, and keeping the equipment up-to-date and safe.

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