Professional development among strength and conditioning coaches

Abstract

First paragraph: As an applied science, the modern field of strength and conditioning has been influenced by two sources of knowledge (Fry & Newton, 2000). One includes the applied or practical knowledge developed from the role strength and conditioning has played in society. For example, as far back as the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Ireland, China, Greece, and Rome, there are records that strength and power abilities were admired and celebrated (Fry & Newton). Many individuals since these times have engaged in physical conditioning regimes to develop their athletic abilities for entertainment, competitive, military, economic, health, and display purposes. Throughout history, people involved in strength and conditioning have learned from their experiences and from those of others about ways to develop sought after physical attributes. The influence of individual’s applied experience is still apparent today, as illustrated in elite level sport where strength and conditioning professionals continually search for new ways to prepare their athletes so they have physical advantages over their competitors. As the second source of knowledge, the influence science has had on the strength and conditioning field may be traced back to the renaissance, where an understanding of how the body worked began emerging (Fry & Newton). Understanding human physiology and anatomy has paved a way for learning how to train the body optimally. More recently, sport and exercise science has had a major influence on knowledge in the field. As these two sources of knowledge became increasingly entwined throughout the 20th century, the modern strength and condition profession emerged.