NSCA Conference Takeaways

This weekend, some of the Spot Athletics staff attended the National Strength and Conditioning Association's Coach's Conference in Indianapolis. It was a great experience learning from the speakers and other attendees at the conference. I wanted to share a few of the thoughts I've been mulling over the past few days.

 

1) Have a varied toolbox.

There is more than one way to reach a desired training affect. The more tools you have at your disposal, the better you will be as a coach. You will be able to adjust for different circumstances and individuals. That being said, there is also not one right way to reach a goal. If someone tells you that there is only one way to do something, they are a liar and probably not a very good coach. Avoid at all costs.

 

2)Have a balanced program.

People love mobility these days. So much mobility. Some people base the majority of their programs on mobility. Mobility is great and important but it's one piece of the puzzle. No matter your goal or sport, there needs to be a balance of strength, mobility, and relevant conditioning. It's easy to get caught up in certain buzzwords, exercises, or methodologies but at the end of the day, there are certain tried and true methods that have been around a long time for a reason. There is an ebb and flow of ideas in the strength industry and it's good to remain balanced in your approach to training.

 

3) Always try to learn

I learned just as much from talking to (or eavesdropping on) other coach's conversations as I did from the speakers. Even the best coaches say they are always reading, learning, and talking. Once you think you know everything, you've lost. You're doing a disservice to yourself and to those that you train. One of the speakers reminded us that some of the best information can be found in training texts from decades ago. Learning doesn't necessarily mean going out of your way to find the hottest new trend in TRX training.

- Coach Lily

Knowledge

This past weekend myself and other staff members attended the NSCA coaches conference in Indianapolis. It is one of the largest gatherings of strength and conditioning professionals. There were coaches from high schools, elite division one colleges and professional sports teams. Over the course of two days over 20 top coaches presented on topics ranging from speed, plyometrics, strength, olympic lifting and other industry breaking topics. Getting to catch up with old friends and getting to meet new coaches. Along with getting to see where the industry is headed and who the young up and coming coaches.

But where I learned the most was sitting down for dinner with coaches from various Big Ten schools and talking about training and coaching. It was humbling to say the least. I took away a handful of ideas that I am excited to start implementing into our clients programming.

To me if I can come away with one thing from these conferences my money was well spent. I get caught up in my own ideas and sometimes get stubborn in what I do. These conferences are always good to keep my ego in check and a quick reminder I don't know all that much. The day you think you know it all is the day that you are done in this industry.

The conference isn't necessarily the topic of this blog. What I want to get across to you is to always keep pursuing perfection. Always keep bettering yourself and advancing your knowledge in your respected field. Don't ever stop learning. Don't ever stop trying new things out. Invest in things that will make a return for you. This conference was an investment and the handful of things I learned this weekend is going to help all of my clients reach their potential. I have new tools in the tool box for you and I am excited to utilize them.

I challenge you to learn one new thing everyday. To invest in one thing everyday that will not only better you but also those around you.

Invest in yourself. Invest in your knowledge. Invest in your health.

Coach B