How strength coaches can impact high school programs pt.2

In last week’s blog, (Click here for Part 1), we briefly discussed two areas where strength coaches could have an impact on a high school programs. In this week’s blog we will continue the discussion of strength coaches and their impact on a high school program with an emphasis on the athletic department.

Freedom for Sport Coaches

               With a strength coach being on staff the sport coach can gain an additional 2 to 4 hours each week of free time to do originally what they signed up for; teaching and coaching. No longer having to deal with the stress linked to the question, what are we going to do in the weight room this week?

With sport coaches not having to be in the weight room conducting workouts, they can now spend their time in a more efficient manner. Looking at the grand scheme of things, the sport coach will be much more content with their position in the long run, even if they struggle with the idea of letting someone else take over their team's training program.

Sports Medicine Team

               Not only will the athletes and sport coaches benefit from the strength coach, but so will the sports medicine team. First off, the establishment of a good relationship between the athletic trainer and the strength coach can enhance both of their jobs and create a “medical staff”.1 With both working side by side and together considering solely in the best interest of the athlete, will take the responsibility of communication out of the equation for the athlete.

With the athletic trainer knowing how to treat injuries and the strength coach understanding the limitations that injuries lead to in the weight room and during conditioning gives the athlete more resources to improve their treatment. The integration of a strength coach could further constitute the development of an injury report to keep all three parties on the same page.

Conclusion

               This article is in no way saying that sport coaches are unable to manage time between teaching, coaching, or lack the ability to form great relationships between themselves and the athletic trainer. Instead, the message hoping to be received is that strength coaches can play a unique role is making each person in the athletic department job a bit less stressful.

References:

1Ryan_Faer. (2015, November 23). Why high schools need strength & conditioning professionals — part II. Retrieved May 25, 2016, from https://medium.com/@Ryan_Faer/why-high-schools-need-strength-conditioning-professionals-part-ii-47ba3bbef4a6#.w4tg5r6wb

2Ryan_Faer. (2015, November 19). Why high schools need strength & conditioning professionals — part I. Retrieved May 25, 2016, from https://medium.com/@Ryan_Faer/why-high-schools-need-strength-conditioning-coaches-part-i-4c2bf654d013#.x851lkkne