The strength and conditioning (S&C) profession forms an integral part of the physical development of all Australian athletes. S&C allows athletes to develop skills and traits which will enhance athletic performance during competition and at elite level performance. The development, implementation and management of a successful S&C training platform is thus critical for clubs, organisations and sporting institutions who want to ensure the success of their organisation.
Dr Jeremy Sheppard has been involved in strength and conditioning as a coach since 1993. Sheppard embodies an uncompromising commitment to high performance in sport, and believes strongly in the establishment of a training culture that involves high work ethic and high expectations.
Sheppard is currently the Head of Strength and Conditioning and Sport Science Manager for Surfing Australia. This is an integrated position with Edith Cowan University, where he mentors graduate students in S&C and the Sport Sciences.
Sheppard is a graduate of the Canadian National Coaching Institute where he studied S&C for Elite Athlete Development. He obtained his Level 4 Coaching certification in S&C under the Coach’s Association of Canada program, and is also certified by the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) as a Level 3 Coach and is recognized by the ASCA as a Master Coach.
Sheppard is an expert in the field of S&C, and gave SBI an insight into not only his own work in S&C but the dynamics of the profession and the pathways for success in the industry.
What is Strength and Conditioning?
Strength and Conditioning involves the physical preparation of athletes who are competing in sport. Athletes are a special population, and so this profession of coaching is distinct in scope (and in the training and background of those involved) from fitness professionals, physiotherapists and allied health practitioners, and from physical educators.
What is involved for someone in this profession?
S&C as a profession is quite unique in that it is a coaching profession, yet a strong foundation in science is at its core. It could be said the S & C professionals must be part scientist and part coach, as their day to day duties vary from testing and interpreting complex biological data, to planning and implementing training activities with athletes.
What pathways and background are necessary to be successful in S&C?
To prepare for this requirement, many S & C coaches have undertaken significant education in human movement science (i.e. Bachelors, Master’s, and PhD degrees) to gain the required knowledge in human anatomy, sport physiology, biomechanics, and injury. Importantly, S & C coaches must also develop their ability to be an effective communicator and have considerable leadership skills to be effective in the job. In other words, an effective balance must be struck between the scientific knowledge required and the ‘art and science’ of skill acquisition, leadership, and communication.
Video: Courtesy of Surfing Australia
How do you see S&C as fundamental to shaping the landscape of Australian sport?
Although S&C coaches have been employed in Australia’s popular football codes (rugby union, league, soccer, Australian Rules football) and with Olympic sports (e.g. Australian institute of Sport, state academies) for decades, there is increasing employment for S & C coaches in high school sport programs and sporting clubs such as surf-lifesaving clubs, basketball, netball, and volleyball.
With this emerging trend you have identified within schools, what benefits do you see?
Increasingly, schools and sport clubs are identifying the need to develop a long-term approach to physical development of youth and adolescent athletes to ensure well-prepared and resilient athletes at the senior level. This long-term development of ‘physical literacy’ is an important component of health, as well as high-performance. In addition, opportunities for S & C coaches are emerging in sports that previously didn’t have the capacity to employ S & C professionals (e.g. surfing, skateboarding), performing arts (e.g. Cirque du Soleil), and in law enforcement (e.g. Australian Federal Police).
Your line of work has obviously seen you involved with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA), what is it that ASCA does for the profession?
The Australian Strength and Conditioning Association is the peak body for S & C coaches in Australia, and is recognised by the Australian Sports Commission to govern the profession. At its core, the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association aims to ‘bridge the gap between sport science and practical application’. One of the primary methods to achieve this is through its coaching education programs, as part of the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme which is administered by the Australian Sports Commission, its International Conference held yearly, and professional update seminars.
How do you see ASCA as beneficial to the development and growth of S&C on the whole?
The core advancement and recognition scheme of the ASCA is its Professional Coaches Structure, which recognizes education, coaching qualification, and importantly, relevant working experiences, to frame a 5-stage professional development progression from Intern through to Master coach. Importantly, the ASCA body sets the standards for the profession, and unites its members to strengthen the opportunities for advancement of its members, but also to create a united voice for the profession in the broader sporting community.
The Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) is the professional development body for Strength and Conditioning Coaches in Australia, representing over 6000 Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coaches involved in coaching athletes/teams at all levels of participation from the club through to Olympic and professional sport levels. ASCA will be hosting the 2013 ASCA International Conference on Applied Strength and Conditioning from Fri 8 – Sun 10 Nov at Melbourne Cricket Ground. See here for further details.