How to Become a Sports Conditioning Coach

A sports conditioning coach is a person who works closely with athletic teams and departments at the high school, college and professional-athlete level. He or she develops effective training programs in the areas of strength, speed, endurance and power.

Instructions

Become a Sports Conditioning Coach

1. Join the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa), a professional organization that provides certification, maintains a list of current job opportunities and promotes a sense of respect for the field.

2. Read about the process of certification for the Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) and its requirements on the CSCCa Web site (see Resources below). Most sports conditioning coach positions require or strongly recommend this certification.

3. Apply for an internship, practicum or graduate assistantship that is approved by the CSCCa. This is one of the requirements for certification and usually spans 8 to 9 months. You may be exempt from this step if you were a full-time conditioning coach for a college or professional sports team prior to September 1, 2000.

4. Review the subjects that are covered on the written portion of the SCCC, as well as supplemental study guides that are recommended, on the CSCCa website. Areas to study may include, but are not limited to, stretching and flexibility, weight management, physiology, metabolism, function of the cardiorespiratory system, program development, goal setting and nutrition.

5. Prepare for the practical section of the exam by practicing a variety of conditioning techniques you will need to explain and demonstrate.

6. Register for and sit for the SCCC exam after you have completed the preparation requirements.

7. Apply to become a sports conditioning coach at the organization of your choice. Get help with finding opportunities on the CSCCa website.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you become certified, maintain your status by taking additional courses or attending national conventions. Make sure your CPR certification is always current by updating it when needed.

• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS ) or Strength & Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) certification is almost always required for sports and strength conditioning coach jobs. However, some organizations do not encourage dual certification, as each one focuses on a different aspect of conditioning. Read position descriptions carefully to determine each organization's philosophy when applying for jobs.