Apr 7, 2020Keys to succeed as a strength coach
No longer a novelty among athletic programs, strength and conditioning coaches are now a crucial cog in building a successful program.
Whether they’re referred to as strength coaches or performance specialists, their job is far more detailed than adding on weights and yelling at players to churn out one more rep.
The key to crafting an effective strength and conditioning program is to incorporate elements of speed, strength, power, endurance, mobility, stability, and acceleration to name a few.
Succeeding as a strength and conditioning coach is providing a healthy balance of both art and science.
A recent story on Stack.com, a website dedicated to bridging the information gap between professional and amateur athletes, detailed how to succeed in the profession and get the most out of athletes at all levels.
In the piece, Jimmy Pritchard, the director of strength and conditioning at Club Vail in Colorado, outlines his coaching pyramid of excellence model; comprised of physical, education and certificates, knowledge, communication, and character.
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“I take tremendous pride in my work and in doing so recognize that I will always be an unfinished product who continuously yearns to grow. I have weaknesses, but I do my best to sharpen the skills that matter most in an era when it’s nearly impossible to throw a rock without striking a self-proclaimed YouTube or Instagram “fitness expert.” Most of these individuals are unfortunately in it for a quick buck or notoriety,” Pritchard wrote in the article. “The pyramid of coaching excellence occasionally gets inverted which leaves some to believe that a quality coach is defined by the number of followers they have, or likes they receive on social media. Fortunately I have had a number of fantastic coaches demonstrate to me what excellence is throughout my career and I aim to do the same for coaches to come.”
To read a detailed breakdown of Pritchard’s coaching pyramid of excellence as it pertains to strength and conditioning coaches, click here.
