Female coaches in strength and conditioning: Why so Few?

Abstract A substantial issue in sporting professions today, including elite strength and conditioning is gender imbalance. Attitudes towards women’s roles are complex and institutionally entrenched, contributing to barriers to women’s success. While real issues still exist for today’s elite female strength and conditioners, murmurings of change are audible. Further research on why gender imbalance in strength and conditioning matters as well as the creation of a culture where women feel included and wanted is part of the solution. This research focuses on women leaders in strength and conditioning, their experiences, the barriers they perceive and their ways of overcoming them

Citrulline Malate fails to improve German volume training performance in healthy young men and women

Background: Citrulline malate (CM) is purported to buffer lactic acid, enhance oxygen delivery, and attenuate muscle soreness. Anaerobic exercise trials with CM have produced conflicting results. Objective: The aim of the current investigation was to test the efficacy of CM on resistance training (RT) with the hypothesis that CM would improve performance. Design: A double-blind, counter-balanced, randomised control trial was utilised to assess the effects of CM on RT. 19 subjects (8 female) (25.7 ± 7.7 years), regularly engaged in RT consumed either 8 g of CM (1.1 : 1 ratio) or a placebo (6 g citric acid). Subjects attempted to perform a German Volume Training (GVT) protocol comprising 10 sets of 10 repetitions of barbell curls at 80 % of their one repetition maximum. Results: Repeated ANOVA suggested no effect of CM on RT performance (treatment × time × order p = 0.217). There was no difference (p = 0.320) in the total number of reps over the ten sets (CM median = 57, IQR 45 to 73; placebo median = 61, IQR 51 to 69). Blood lactate and creatine kinase did not differ between CM and placebo (p > 0.05). Finally, total muscle soreness was reduced significantly in CM compared to placebo (treatment × time × order p = 0.004). Conclusions: These results require corroboration; an ergogenic benefit is yet to be established and weight trainers should exercise caution when assessing the efficacy of CM. Future research should focus on the potential effects of loading doses of CM

Jump Training Analysis: An Application in Strength and Conditioning

Force development is a crucial part of sports performance. Jumping is a mechanical movement used in various sports to analyze force production. Strength and Conditioning coaches work with athletes on improving sports performance through a variety of exercises. The mechanical principles utilized in jump training will help coaches train athletes to excel. Research has analyzed the various components of jumping that could substantially improve the rate of force development. Studies about the mechanisms of jumping will consist of devices used to measure force, phases of the jump, neuromuscular control of jumping and exercises to help athletes improve. The following thesis will include a review of jumping as well as an application strength and conditioning coach’s use in the weight room

Continuing Education Dispositions of NCAA-DI Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches: A Qualitative Analysis

Background/Purpose: To explore the continuing education dispositions of collegiate football strength and conditioning coaches in the NCAA-DI. Methods: Qualitative content analysis was used on data collected via online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to explore the learning habits and values toward career long learning of eight (n=8) active collegiate football strength and conditioning coaches certified with either the National Strength and Conditioning Association or College Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, and in full time employment as a college strength and conditioning coach for at least ten years. Results: Results identified themes associated with how coaches engage in continuing education throughout their careers and how they value such experiences. Coaches also provided insight in regard to how they felt continuing education could be improved for their personal practice and for future generations of strength and conditioning coaches. Conclusion: Findings support previous literature pertaining to how continuing education can exist as formal, informal, or nonformal and can be meticulously planned or interwoven into the day to day experiences of professionals

“Sharpening Your Mind, Strengthening Your Body” Parental Perceptions on the Use of Strength and Conditioning in Children and Youth

Although strength and conditioning is beneficial and safe for children to engage in there remain myths and misconceptions form parents regarding its use which prevent its widespread take up. This study explored parents’ attitudes and beliefs about strength and conditioning in their children. Thirty-one parents (21 dads, 10 mums) took part in one of four focus groups exploring the topic. Thematic analysis was used resulting in themes and sub themes centred on: Beliefs; Determinants; Coach Education; Coach Communication; and Relationship to the Game. There were also smaller aspects of the focus groups which touched upon autonomy as a concept related to implementation of strength and conditioning specifically. Overall, parents of children who play grassroots sport hold generally positive perceptions on use of strength and conditioning with their children, considering it beneficial for both physical and mental development. Key factors relating to successful implementation of strength and conditioning for children focus on having a qualified coach in that particular area (rather than a generic sports coach), effective communication between coach and parents, and coach and children in terms of the benefits of engaging with strength and conditioning

Expectations of strength and conditioning professionals: perspectives of athletic administrators and strength and conditioning professionals

Strength & conditioning (S&C) training in collegiate athletics has become an integral part of optimal athletic preparation. Such training improves physical qualities required to excel in sports and decreases the likelihood of injury. S&C programs have become commonplace within all levels of collegiate athletics. However, there is presently no standardized evaluation of the S&C professional or standardization of who should be performing said evaluation. The purpose of this study was to examine the expectations of S&C professionals from the perspective of the athletic administrator (AD) providing supervisory oversight, and S&C professionals themselves. Sixteen collegiate athletic professionals (8 athletic administrators, 8 S&C professionals) from an NCAA Division I Mid-Major Conference participated in a semi-structured interview on the current expectations and evaluation process for S&C professionals. Results revealed that S&C professionals and ADs were consistent in their understandings of the S&C professionals’ roles and responsibilities. Despite mutual awareness of roles and responsibilities, S&C professionals believed that the evaluation process could be improved by standardization. Participants also agreed that such an evaluation process would be difficult given a lack of uniform measures of standards. S&C professionals wanted an objective measure of success; they did not believe the measure should be based on wins and losses. Instead, participants suggested the possible use of the number of non-contact injuries or improvement of various performance metrics. The findings of this study indicated that ADs did not feel comfortable giving evaluations specifically about program design, exercise selection, and key performance indicators. Due in part to lack of expertise with the S&C area, as well as a multitude of professional-related responsibilities. ADs in this study did, however, acknowledge the need for standardized and formal forms of evaluation, which suggests that an objective third party may be best to create these standards. Who should create such measures was unclear. Neither the S&C professionals nor the AD participants offered recommendations as to a third-party evaluator. It was clear from these findings that the current standards as advocated by the NSCA are not useful as guidelines for evaluations. None of the ADs interviewed had heard of, read in any depth, or used NSCA guidelines for evaluation. Moreover, the same was true of S&C professionals. Only one had engaged with the guidelines and believed the guidelines were problematic in their lack of individuality for varying levels of competition. Future research might identify an appropriate third party to craft such standards, as well as the creation of measures and metrics that could be used by professionals. Such a formal and consistent evaluation process would allow ADs to conduct beneficial evaluations and provide S&C professionals with feedback to aid in their professional development and place emphasis on the health and safety of the collegiate athlete

Attitudes toward and preferences for male and female personal trainers

Previous research has considered the perceptions of athletes towards gender of coach and strength and conditioning coach. However, to date there appears little research considering the perceptions of clients towards gender of personal trainer. The purpose of this study was to investigate male and females perceptions of same- or opposite-gender personal trainers. Four hundred and two (male = 201, female = 201) undergraduate University student participants completed an adapted version of the Attitudes of Athletes toward Male versus Female Coaches Questionnaire (AAMFCQ; 23). A 2 x 2 multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that neither males nor females showed any preference for gender of hypothetical personal trainer (p > 0.05) although both males and females reported that a personal trainer of the opposite gender might make it harder to concentrate (p < 0.05). Previous research has reported a preference for male coaches/strength and conditioning coaches from both male and female athletes. However, this study suggests that there is no such gender bias towards personal trainers in this population

Strength and conditioning practices in rowing

There is minimal research on the practices of strength and conditioning coaches in England. Information about training programme design could be useful in developing models of good practice and ecologically valid intervention studies. The aim of the research was to quantify the training practices of coaches responsible for the strength and conditioning of rowing athletes. A questionnaire was developed and consisted of six sections: (a) personal details, (b) physical testing, (c) strength/power development, (d) flexibility development (e) unique aspects of programme and (f) any further relevant comments regarding the athletes prescribed training programme. Twenty two rowing and ten strength and conditioning coaches with an average of 10.5+7.2 years experience agreed to complete the questionnaire. Approximately, 34% coached Olympic standard rowers, 34% national standard, 3% regional, 19% club, and 10% university standard rowers. All coaches agreed that strength training enhanced rowing performance and the majority (74%) indicated athletes strength trained 2–3 times a week. Most coaches (94%) reported their rowers performed strength training, with 81% using Olympic lifting, and 91% employing a periodised training model. The clean (63%) and squat (27%) were rated the most important exercises prescribed within the training programme. Approximately 50% of coaches used plyometrics such as depth jumps, box drills and standing jumps. Ninety four percent indicated they conducted physical testing on their rowers, typically assessing cardiovascular endurance (80%), muscular power (70%), muscular strength (70%) and anaerobic capacity (57%). On average, testing was conducted by coaches in pre-season (88%) and inseason (91%), while only 31% preformed postseason testing. Coaches typically prescribed static stretching (97%), dynamic stretching (69%), PNF stretching (56%). This research provides detailed information on the current strength and conditioning provision in rowing within Great Britain. Future studies could use this information to develop experimental protocols to examine the effect of current or new strength and conditioning interventions on rowing performance

Strength and conditioning practices of franchise-level cricket trainers

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the strength and conditioning practices implemented by cricket trainers and coaches at an elite level. Methods: An online survey, adapted from previous strength and conditioning questionnaires, was sent to trainers currently working with the franchise cricket teams in South Africa. The survey consisted of four main sections including a general strength and conditioning, cricket- specific and injury prevention category. Results: The results indicated that trainers (n = 5) implement planned sessions throughout the different phases of the season and that certain injury prevention practices are applied. Furthermore, player workload is monitored for all disciplines (batsmen, bowlers and fielders). Conclusion: These results can be used as a tool to educate coaches and trainers to ensure the correct strength and conditioning practices are implemented. Additionally the study showed that strength and conditioning practices at the elite level can be implemented without specialised equipment and facilities, which is important for teams that are constantly travelling. Lastly it showed the importance of looking at all aspects of health and skill related fitness