Strength and Conditioning training involves a wide range of exercises developed to build a variety of skills with a focus on mind, mobility, stability, strength, endurance, power, speed, agility and performance.
Strength and Conditioning programs are generally developed specifically to improve performance in athletic competition. They also help with injury prevention and develop the proper mechanics within an athletes sports performances.
Like personal trainers and group exercise instructors, Strength and Conditioning coaches help others to improve their fitness. But Strength and Conditioning coaches differ from the others in one very important way – the clients they work with are focused on improving their performance or skill in a sport. This is why strength and conditioning coaches work primarily with athletes.*
A key point to remember is a balanced training program that includes a range of Strength and Conditioning exercises will provide a strong foundation in developing the necessary skills to enjoy any chosen sport or activity.
Strength and Conditioning coaches have two primary goals.
- The first is to improve athletic performance, which usually means improving athletes’ mobility, stability, strength, endurance, power, speed, agility and performance.
- The second primary goal is to reduce athletic injuries. To that end, conditioning coaches often design regimens to strengthen body parts that are prone to injury in a particular sport.
*“Strength and Conditioning coach”. Human Kinetics. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
Can a sport specific exercise, such as a squat in external rotation done in dance be classified as a strength and conditioning exercise when using heavier weights(eg holding dumbbells)? Or is it simply a conditioning exercise without the ‘strength’ element?
It can be and it may not. Now I know that sounds like a non answer but let me explain – it depends on the person and why you are doing this exercise. Any time you use weights be they light to heavy you are doing a strength exercise as this will build muscle strength. Be it to gain lean muscle strength or bulk up your muscle strength. Dance in itself is a beautiful exercise regime as there is often lots of internal and external rotating. So best to ask yourself what do you want to achieve by doing this. Good Luck and thanks for asking us this question.