In the professional world of sports performance, there are many educated individuals that are involved in ensuring that each athlete on a team is taken care of so that they may reach their highest potential. Among all the team physicians, physiotherapists, athletic trainers, dieticians and sport psychologists who are licensed by a governing body or gold standard of practice, there is also a strength and conditioning coach, who is almost always governed by the standards of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
So, the question is, what is the difference between a coach that is a CSCS versus a coach that is not, or may have only a personal training certification? While there are many knowledgeable coaches that do not have a CSCS, and many great personal trainers out there, the main difference between a coach that is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, above all, means they are educated and certified to work with athletes specifically. They are educated to understand the demands and training requirements that athletes need. The exam ensures that a CSCS understands the seasonality and demands of sport, what the athlete may need during each season, and how to train an athlete to be the best they can be whether it's for speed, strength, power, etc. While a personal training certification is useful and great to have in the general population setting, it is not quite up to par when athletes enter the equation.
When a coach works with athletes, it is important to assess the external loads of the weight room, but also what happens in practice, outside of practice, and every other external stressor contributing to athletic performance, whether it is positive or negative. It is the responsibility of the strength and conditioning coach to serve athletes the best they can through proper adjustments in their training so that the athlete can do their best work out on the playing field.
Furthermore, the gold standard of what the NSCA requires a coach to understand in order to pass the CSCS creates a common ground for professionals to work on to ensure the athlete is getting what they need and communication may be easier between all professionals involved. It is information and data that is scientifically backed, which means the practices and information that are learned and used are repeatable, valid, and are reliable so that each coach that has a CSCS knows that whatever regimen their athlete has been put through, is science backed. Standards are also established for athletes from the young developmental stages to the elite to ensure proper guidance and progression in training is given to young and mature athletes.
As an employer hiring a coach that is CSCS certified means that not only has that individual gone through a four year degree in a related field to coaching, but they have also have gone through scientific theory and application tests where their knowledge is challenged and applied in the areas that are important when it comes to training athletes. Being a CSCS means the standard of practices that are executed are Athlete Centered. This means that the athletes best interest always comes first so that each day they compete in their sport can be their best.
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