Social Media: Strength & Conditioning

     Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and several more social media sites are an absolute staple in staying current with what is evolving in Strength and Conditioning (S&C).  Blogs about a new S&C profession, information about  upcoming S&C events such as seminars or conferences, or  posts about what training methods another university is implementing  are all ways other coaches can develop new and better ways to train athletes.  Social media in S&C profession allows for Strength and Conditioning coaches to keep in touch; when it comes to finding a job, it is all about who you know and networking.  Staying connected with other strength coaches is crucial to this process of your professional development.

     Female Strength Coaches and Social Media.   As a female in this profession, it is understood that we are a minority in a male-dominated field.  It is important that we stay connected and support each other, because most of us at some point have experienced stress dealing with male colleagues. One way to find support and assurance is through an organization called the Young Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (YSCCA).  This organization has a social media site that provides opportunities for blogging, sharing experiences, and learning wisdom from the veteran female strength coaches who have made it big. This has been one of the more empowering social media tools that has helped me stay confident in myself and in my training.  It is nice to know I am not alone and people are willing to help me become a better professional.

     Social Media and Untrained Athletes.  YouTube has been one of the most used social media tools for training and coaching development.  College S&C coaches utilize YouTube to demonstrate exercise techniques for incoming freshman as well as upper classman.  The majority of freshman are untrained and may not have heard of some of the exercises prescribed to them, so the video instructions give them a place to go and so they can learn the movement properly and come to the season prepared physically and mentally.   The same principle holds true for returning athletes who may return home during the summer months; the YouTube video instruction provides a source of guidance for those athletes who are unsupervised while training. 

     Final Thoughts.  If you want to pursue the S&C profession, then it is highly suggested that you get involved and stay connected in as many ways as possible.  Get your name out there.  The more a potential employer sees your name and the more you interact, the better chances you have at getting a job down the road.  Social media is a free and an easily accessible way to help you grow as a coach. One day you might be the coach that everyone wants to learn from; put your name out there and promote yourself so that you are not easily forgotten!