What is a Quick Flip?
- Taken Directly from the Elitefts™ Training Logs or Q&As
- Opinionated
- Unedited
Three tough questions for wanna-be college strength coaches
I have had the privilege of mentoring numerous interns trying to become a strength & conditioning coach. I have pride in the fact that I have been very honest with them about recommendation and the field itself. I have had many recently looking for positions and I care about them enough to ask them (or ask them to ask themselves) some important questions.Do you really want to be a collegiate strength & conditioning coach?
Being at the college level has its own challenges. If you are pursuing a college S&C job, it is because you feel you are best suited for and have a passion for coaching 18-22 year-olds. If you just want to coach and you don't care what age group, the private sector or high school may be a better choice. A few questions:- Is everything you are doing right now preparing yourself for that career?
- Can you move anywhere in the country or are you tied to a certain geographic area?
- Are you willing to save money just to volunteer to get experience with an internship?
- What makes you deserving of a full-time job and why would a head S&C coach hire you over the other 200 applicants?
- Are you passionate about getting others strong or do you just like to train yourself. One feeds your ego, the other feed your family.
Applying for a GA spot
These positions are extremely hard to come by. A lot of people think they are going to get their undergrad and fall right into a College S&C GA position. It really doesn't work like that. So ask yourself:- Do you really want to be a graduate assistant strength coach or do you just want your Masters paid for?
- Are you willing to work 60-80 hours per week, get paid for 20 and still have a full course load?
- If you can't get a S&C GA position, are you willing to still go to grad school and volunteer in the weight room?
Do you know anyone who has retired as a strength & conditioning coach?
Just about every strength coach will quit or get fired and eventually get out of the game. There are only a few that get recycled enough times to make a career out of it. Here are some questions to ask yourself:- Do you like money?
- Do you like sleep?
- What is your fall-back plan?
- Is your significant other willing to move around the country?
