Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) – Scope of Practice Statement (SOP)

“A strength and conditioning coach in Australia is an accredited Australian Strength and Conditioning Association coach who develops the physical capabilities of competitive athlete populations.”

Education and Training Requirements

Accreditation as a strength and conditioning coach is achieved through a combination of coursework and specific training and competencies. The National Coach Accreditation Scheme, administered by Sport Australia, endorses course programs offered by the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) as the foundation of the education pathways and includes levels 1-3. Each level of accreditation involves training requirements in areas of coaching competence, foundation scientific knowledge, relevant coaching experience and anti-doping education.

University level qualifications are not a requirement to be an accredited ASCA coach. However, most jobs in the profession require an undergraduate degree in Human Movement or Sport Science, and the majority of coaches with level 2 and level 3 qualification have undergraduate, Masters, or PhD level qualifications. As such, a large portion of ASCA coaches possess an undergraduate degree, Masters degree, or PhD.

Although sometimes confused, fitness-training accreditation (e.g. Certificate IV in Fitness) are not a substitute for university level qualifications or ASCA coaching accreditation. As such, fitness training for the general population is not in the SOP of strength and conditioning coaches. In turn, physical preparation of athletic populations in Australia is not in the SOP of individuals who are not accredited by the ASCA (e.g. personal trainers) through the National Coach Accreditation Scheme. Importantly, to refer to oneself as a ‘strength and conditioning coach’ in Australia, the individual must be accredited in strength and conditioning, not personal fitness training.

Industry Recognised Coach - The ASCA Professional Coach Accreditation Scheme

The ASCA Professional Coach Accreditation Scheme (PCAS) is the industry’s recognised coach program. There is a need for the ASCA PCAS, as ASCA accreditation (through Sport Australia requirements) to recognise coursework and competencies. The ASCA PCAS acknowledge specific industry experience, demonstrable successful achievements within the profession, mentee and mentorship participation, identified professional skill sets and requires training and declarations in regard to anti-corruption and anti-doping.

As such, the ASCA PCAS serves as the industry’s quality assurance program. Most Australian employers require strength and conditioning staff to be a member of the PCAS as part of best-practise models. 

The following four levels of recognition and their requirements for inclusion are in the table below.

In addition, all PCAS coaches must:

1. Be a current member of the ASCA

2. Be a current accredited coach with the ASCA

3. Sign and return the ASCA PCSA consent form

4. Provide evidence they have completed and passed ASADA’s level 1 or level 2 anti-doping course http://elearning.asada.gov.au

5. Completed the National Integrity of Sport Unit “Keep Australian Sport Honest” e-learning module http://elearning.sport.gov.au/

Strength and Conditioning Coaches Do:

• Work with athletic populations

• Work with a variety of ages from youth to veterans in accordance with ASCA position stands and guidelines

• Screen athletes to identify potential risks for injury and limitations to performance

• Identify and provide activity to address general wellness issues in athletes, such as posture and breathing

• Design periodised and integrated athletic development programs in conjunction with a support team, head coach etc. to achieve individual and team goals using a range of methods: resistance training, conditioning / energy systems training, speed and agility drills (including basic technical running advice) and flexibility, mobility, warm up and warm down programs in a variety of settings

• Have the knowledge to develop a range of physical testing protocols including for various types of movement, flexibility, speed, endurance, strength and power

• Monitor and assess progress through physical testing, wellness monitoring and through the use of available athlete monitoring systems (e.g. heart rate and its variability, Global Positioning Systems, performance testing, etc.)

• Provide general information on healthy eating, eating to support training goals, basic supplement information. The S & C coach can only make generalised recommendations in line with ASADA and AIS published guidelines on the efficacy and WADA legality of specific supplements

• Provide general information on basic physiological recovery modalities

• Have the ability and accreditation to provide basic First Aid and CPR

• Work in conjunction with sports medicine staff and physiotherapists to design appropriate rehabilitation plans

• Work in conjunction with sport coach’s to develop and review athlete performance plans and their roles and accountabilities within these plans

S&C Coaches MUST:

• Refer to nutrition specialists for more advanced and individualised information on dietary intervention
• Refer to sports medicine practitioners to diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses

S&C Coaches DO NOT:

• Diagnose injury or illness
• Prescribe medications
• Treat injuries through manual therapy or manual corrective joint manipulation
• Provide diets or recommend specific supplements