October/November 2024 (Vol. XXXIV, No. 5)

2024 Strength Coaches Survey results

Strength and conditioning coaches have two primary goals. The first is to improve athletic performance, which usually means improving athletes’ speed, strength, and power through systematic training programs for teams and individual athletes, often working closely with coaches. The second primary goal is to reduce athletic injuries. To that end, strength coaches design regimens to […]

In-season women’s hockey programming considerations

The ice hockey season spans from mid-September to late March, making it one of the longest seasons of all NCAA sports. Despite the season length, it is one of the more routine weekly microcycles with games every Friday and Saturday. Training hard and consistently throughout the season is imperative due to the length. Planning with […]

Interpreting new research for optimal protein intake post-workout

With constant advancements in the study and application of sport nutrition taking place, new research findings are around every corner. As the level of competition rises for even the most elite athletes, the application of new research can help them gain a competitive edge. New science out of Maastricht University by Trommelen et al. is […]

Strength Training Facilities of Excellence: Cedar Rapids Prairie High School

Cedar Rapids Prairie High School in Iowa wanted to give its student-athletes an NCAA Division I feel. To do that, they brought in Zach Walrod to be its new physical education teacher and strength coach, after he had spent most of his career working with NCAA Division 1 athletes. The next step was to provide […]

Strength Training Facilities of Excellence: Northern Highlands Reg. High School

Located in Allendale, NJ, roughly 30 minutes outside New York City, Northern Highlands Regional High School has a stand-out training facility for its students and student-athletes. The two-story, 7,600-square-foot facility overlooks the Highlanders stadium and was part of an $8.8 million athletic upgrade that included new turf fields on a 5.5-acre on-campus plot of land […]

Strength Training Facilities of Excellence: St. Thomas More Catholic High School

The Our Lady of Lourdes Athletics Center, located in Lafayette, LA, is the new 7,400-square-foot training facility for St. Thomas More High School — which has won the most Louisiana state championships in the last 20 years. In addition to the 7,000 square feet of locker rooms, meeting rooms, offices, and training rooms, the weight […]

2024 Strength Coaches Survey results

Strength and conditioning coaches have two primary goals. The first is to improve athletic performance, which usually means improving athletes’ speed, strength, and power through systematic training programs for teams and individual athletes, often working closely with coaches.

The second primary goal is to reduce athletic injuries. To that end, strength coaches design regimens to strengthen body parts prone to injury in a particular sport.

Building strength, power, and speed while actively participating in injury prevention and rehabilitation in athletes — that’s the name of the game for strength coaches. And that sort of transformative development has taken shape in the industry overall. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health and fitness trainer industry is expected to see a 12 percent growth through 2029 and produce roughly 30,000 jobs.

Training & Conditioning Magazine asked strength and conditioning specialists across the country what’s affecting their industry currently, the injuries they see, and the important principles of strength training.

Below is a snapshot of those results.

What’s On Your Mind

We asked strength coaches to rank the industry issues they feel are most concerning. Though ‘Lack of Certification/Education’ received the highest percentage of ‘very concerned’ responses (60.4%), ‘Salary/Compensation’ took the top spot in 2024. ‘Limited Resources/Budget Constraints’ received the highest percentage of ‘not concerned’ responses (50.9).

In Their Own Words…on their primary training philosophy

“I emphasize the importance of consistency, discipline, and gradual progression to achieve sustainable performance improvements.”

“Gaps in development lead to gaps in performance. Fill in the gaps. Train movements, not muscles. Develop athleticism first and foremost.”

“Give young people a sense of joy, victory, and accomplishment in competition and training.”

“In general, use it or lose it. Everything works, but nothing works all the time, so mix things up. Full-body well-rounded fitness tends to be a focal point until there is a specific context where exposure balance needs to be skewed in one direction or another. Train all the foundational movement patterns. Get exposure to all planes of motion.”

“More is not better. Better is better. Be savagely simple and consistent.”

“Combine different training means and methods, including practical training, simulated competition and psychological training.”

“Player safety is paramount. Making sure we do what we do for a reason and not because we saw it on TikTok. Using full ROM. Proper technique and effort.”

» ALSO SEE: Interpreting new research for optimal protein intake post-workout

“Emphasize the importance of recovery, including adequate sleep, appropriate rest days, restorative training and possible rehabilitation therapy.”

“Divide the training program into different cycles, such as preparation, competition and transition, to accommodate different stages of training.”