How to become a Strength and Conditioning Coach?

Sean33

Hey everyone,

Does anyone have any information on the best ways to go about becoming a strength and conditioning coach?

I'm 19 and going back to repeat my leaving cert next year (aiming for 600 points) and I'm very interested in becoming a strength and conditioning trainer. I'm a very athletic person (Muay Thai, BJJ, Swimming etc..) and this is definitely what i want to do.


From what I have researched I would need to join the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association which to begin with you need a BSC in any given subject.

I was thinking about doing a 4 year course in Physiology and then probably getting the CSCCa and doing a 10 month Internship followed by going back to College to do a MSC in either sports Science or Physiotherapy.

I would eventually like to be a Strength and Conditioning coach for Combat sports athletes, MMA, Kickboxing, Boxing etc.. as thats where my passion is.

Does this sound any good? What would you guys recommend?


Thanks.

SpaceApe

You could do Sports Science as a degree in DCU or UL. You might not need a masters to be a strength and conditioning coach, just other strength and conditioning qualifications to provide you with insurance

Nwm2

Sean33 wrote: »

Hey everyone,

Does anyone have any information on the best ways to go about becoming a strength and conditioning coach?

I'm 19 and going back to repeat my leaving cert next year (aiming for 600 points) and I'm very interested in becoming a strength and conditioning trainer. I'm a very athletic person (Muay Thai, BJJ, Swimming etc..) and this is definitely what i want to do.


From what I have researched I would need to join the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association which to begin with you need a BSC in any given subject.

I was thinking about doing a 4 year course in Physiology and then probably getting the CSCCa and doing a 10 month Internship followed by going back to College to do a MSC in either sports Science or Physiotherapy.

I would eventually like to be a Strength and Conditioning coach for Combat sports athletes, MMA, Kickboxing, Boxing etc.. as thats where my passion is.

Does this sound any good? What would you guys recommend?


Thanks.

Aside from the qualifications aspect, (at some stage in the future) try and get your MT or BJJ coach to allow you to run a conditioning class once or twice a week. Don't take any money for it, let your coach collect it so it will be an earner for him. Maybe eventually you can get your own training free as compensation.

If this works out and you are good, then you can build on this. 8-12 weeks out from a big competition, get your coach to let you start doing separate competition team conditioning sessions - building up from general to specific strength and conditioning exercises.

Get a reputation of getting guys into great shape for fights and many opportunities will open up.

You're probably a bit young & inexperienced to do this right now, but in a couple of years if you turn into a beast on the mat or in the ring, plus your own conditioning is exceptional, plus you're in college studying it, then this could work for you. So I would concentrate on becoming that beast (& getting enough points) first.

Banks

Do your leaving cert and train as much as possible in your given sport(s).

Go to either DCU, UUJ, UL and get a sport science or related degree, during this time get as much work experience as possible in different fields of sport science/ Strength and conditioning as they relate heavily in real life!!

Once uo have your degree you can take the CSCS, UKSCA exams and or do a masters in sports physiology or strength and conditioning.

Oh and don't pigeon hole yourself as just a MMA strength and conditioning coach. A good S&C coach can work with an athlete from any sport whether it be boxing, canoeing, rugby or cycling!!

Sean33

Thanks a million for the amazing replies. Some really good ideas here. I'll definitely be taking some of this advice, much appreciated.

I plan to be a strength and conditioning coach for all sports but as my passion seems to be in Martial arts I would much rather keep as much focus on training fighters. This way I can probably get much more training in myself.

I have a few more questions but I just got back from training and I need some food in me.

Anyway thanks for the great advice, I'll be back on later.

Hanley

If you've never heard of Ollie Richardson, check out his stuff

http://www.fighterstrength.com/

Sean33

Hey everyone,

So Ive been searching online and I can't really seem to find many courses that would relate to strength and conditioning in Ireland.

The Sports science Bsc in DCU looks great but as for doing a Masters there doesn't seem to be many choices. Would leaving the country to perhaps the UK be a wise move?


Anyway I realize I'm jumping the gun as I haven't even repeated my leaving cert yet but I'd still like to check out a few courses to get a general Idea of what I'll be doing.



All help is much appreciated.

Banks

This is probably one of the best places in the world to do a masters in the field IMO http://www.sebhs.ecu.edu.au/strength_cond/ but its in Aussie land!

The Uni of Middleex & Edinburgh also offer Msc in Strength & Conditioning

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/Sport/MSc_Strength_Conditioning.aspx

http://www.education.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught-degrees/MScSC/index.html

To be honest id concentrate on getting your points so you can get the best dgree as possible. See your guidance advisor in school and they should know all sports related courses, Carlow IT and Waterford IT also offer good S&C related undergrad degreees.

Check out the link Hanley put up, ollie Richardson is Dan Hardy's S&C coach. Jonathon Chaimberg is another one to look at http://www.adrenalineperformancecenter.com/

Just google S&C coaches and u will get good results!!:)

mushykeogh

Banks wrote: »

This is probably one of the best places in the world to do a masters in the field IMO http://www.sebhs.ecu.edu.au/strength_cond/ but its in Aussie land!

The Uni of Middleex & Edinburgh also offer Msc in Strength & Conditioning

Iv heard some mixed reviews about the masters in ecu from people that have done the course even though its quite popular. Have heard a lot of good stuff about the one in Edinburgh, but i havent done either so i dont know!
Masters dont come cheap either and there not getting any cheaper!

Sean33 wrote: »

So Ive been searching online and I can't really seem to find many courses that would relate to strength and conditioning in Ireland.

The Sports science Bsc in DCU looks great but as for doing a Masters there doesn't seem to be many choices. Would leaving the country to perhaps the UK be a wise move?

Masters in S&C are fairly recent developments and im sure more and more will pop up over the years.
My route was to do a masters in exercise physiology and choose a thesis with a s&c angle.

Basic degree, uksca and cscs exam and get plenty of experience. Masters are nice but there is plenty of top top strength coaches out there without them.
Experience is the key, if i was 10 years younger id focus more on the hands on work. To be honest ive spent too much time chasing certs and qualifications over the years, get stuck in to the actual coaching and learn as you go, read everything, question everything, plague existing coaches with questions, ask to drop by there facility and have a look at how they do things.

I found that the ones that tell you to feic off dont genuinely have conviction in their own work. The ones who let you watch and ask questions tend to have a system that works and can actually coach.

Banks

mushykeogh wrote: »

Experience is the key, if i was 10 years younger id focus more on the hands on work. To be honest ive spent too much time chasing certs and qualifications over the years, get stuck in to the actual coaching and learn as you go, read everything, question everything, plague existing coaches with questions, ask to drop by there facility and have a look at how they do things.

I found that the ones that tell you to feic off dont genuinely have conviction in their own work. The ones who let you watch and ask questions tend to have a system that works and can actually coach.

I agree totally with you on this point, experience is nearly important once you have the basics, Degree, CSCS UKSCA etc. Got an internship here in Jan http://www.athletesperformance.com/ so can't wait!!

Where you do your Msc mushy?? Where are you coaching now? Sounds like you've gone down the same path I want to travel!!!

Sean33

More great advice, thanks!

I very much like the idea of doing a MSC in Australia. It's one of the places Ive always wanted to go. I'm hoping that I'll be able to travel a bit with this job at least to begin with as Ive always wanted to see different countries. Thats a few years down the road anyway so I'm sure I'll probably have tons of ideas when the time comes.


Something else I was wondering was would you guys recommend any books to read on the subject? I read a lot and tend to go through books weekly so I'd love some material to read on S&C.


Thanks again.

d'Oracle

You should contact a couple of S&C guys directly and ask them.
There are a few on here, but it might be presuming too much for me to say: "Contact this guy."

But it should be said because there are a few on here now and again and one or two are very good at their job.

Hanley

What's the story with CSCS... Just looked at their requirements and it just says a BA/BS from a college/uni recognised by the national education authority - no mention of it being spots science related or whatever.

Does that mean like my BA in accounting and HRM would be alright?!?

mushykeogh

Hanley wrote: »

What's the story with CSCS... Just looked at their requirements and it just says a BA/BS from a college/uni recognised by the national education authority - no mention of it being spots science related or whatever.

Does that mean like my BA in accounting and HRM would be alright?!?

Yep, any degree will do.

Banks

mushykeogh wrote: »

Yep, any degree will do.

Yeah think any Ba or Bsc will suffice but id email them to be sure

Nwm2

Sean33 wrote: »

More great advice, thanks!

I very much like the idea of doing a MSC in Australia. It's one of the places Ive always wanted to go. I'm hoping that I'll be able to travel a bit with this job at least to begin with as Ive always wanted to see different countries. Thats a few years down the road anyway so I'm sure I'll probably have tons of ideas when the time comes.


Something else I was wondering was would you guys recommend any books to read on the subject? I read a lot and tend to go through books weekly so I'd love some material to read on S&C.


Thanks again.

I presume you have Joel Jamisons 'Ultimate MMA Conditioning'?

There are plenty of other MMA/MA conditioning books out there but this is maybe the only one looking at it from a scientific S&C perspective.

http://www.8weeksout.com/store/38-books/67-welcome-to-joomla