An International Comparison of Strength and Conditioning Coach Education
Vol.18,No.01(2024)
Vladimír Jůva, Associate professor
The paper deals with coaching bachelor degrees for strength and conditioning coaches in selected universities in Canada, Norway, Czech Republic and Slovakia. All participating countries of the research set are full members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Based on a content analysis of curricular documents, we identify and describe similarities and differences in approaches to strength and conditioning coaching bachelor degrees. They were apparent primarily in the qualification, content and practicum profile. The study shows that the coach's bachelor's degree has different qualifications, content and practicum profiles. It is even in sharp contrast to the bachelor's level in sports coaching in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, compared to the bachelor's level in kinesiology in Canada and sports science in Norway. The more specifically designed strength and conditioning coach bachelor level of education in the Czech Republic and Slovakia differed from schooling in Canada and Norway. The fundamental difference is the longer duration of the study program and the minor number of credit units at a Canadian institution compared to European institutions. The difference in the number of optional subjects is also striking. In European institutions, they make up a maximum of 16%; in Canadian institution, it represents almost half of all courses in the study program. An automatic CSCS (NSCA) certification program option is available in Canada.
strength and conditioning coaching; physical fitness; coach education; bachelor´s degree; development of coach profession
Askarova, S., Umbayev, B., Masoud, A., Kaiyrlykyzy, A., Safarova, Y., Tsoy, A., Olzhayev, F., Kushugulova, A. (2020). The Links Between the Gut Microbiome, Aging, Modern Lifestyle and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00104. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32257964/
Bachelor i trening, helse og prestasjon – Norges Idrettshøgskole. (2023). Www.nih.no. https://www.nih.no/studier/programmer/bachelor-i-trening-helse-og-prestasjon/index.html
CSCS Prerequisites. (n.d.). Www.nsca.com. https://www.nsca.com/cscs-exam-prerequisites/
Educational Degrees. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2021, from https://www.cscca.org/certification/educationaldegrees
European Commission. Directorate General for Education and Culture. (2015). ECTS users’ guide 2015. Publications Office. https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/87192
Education at a Glance 2023. (2023). In Education at a glance, https://doi.org/10.1787/e13bef63-en
Gavora, P. (2010). Úvod do pedagogického výzkumu [Introductory to pedagogical research]. Paido.
Grexa, J. (2011). Aké boli antické olympijské hry. [What were the ancient Olympic Games]. SOV.
Hendl, J. (2005). Kvalitativní výzkum: základní metody a aplikace. [Qualitative research: basic methods and applications]. Portál.
Hoffman, J., & American Kinesiology Association. (2011). Careers in sport, fitness, and exercise. Human Kinetics.
International Coaching Degree Standards | ICCE. (n.d.). Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://icce.ws/project/international-coaching-degree-standards/
ICCE, ASOIF, & LBU (2013). International Sport Coaching Framework, v1.2. Champaign, II.: Human Kinetics.
Janíková, M., Jůva, V., & Cacek, J. (2019). Sportovní trenér: vymezování profese a její různé podoby a problémy [Sports Coach: Evolving the Profession and Its Various Forms and Challenges]. Orbis Scholae, 13(1), 63–85. doi: 10.14712/23363177.2019.14.
Jenkins, S. P. R. (2005). Sports science handbook. Essex: Multi Science Publishing.
Lohne-Seiler, H. (2015). Physical activity level, musculoskeletal fitness,balance, strength and power performance in older adults [Doctoral thesis]. https://nih.brage.unit.no/nih-xmlui/handle/11250/2379371
Lukáč, R., Slížik, M., Grey, M. T. (2023). Vplyv vzpierania a silovej záťaže na organizmus človeka [The impact of weightlifting and strength load on the human organism]. Vzpieranie pre všetkých, 33–58.
Masarykova univerzita v Brne, fakulta športových štúdií 2021 [Online]. Retrieved March 23, 2021, from https://www.fsps.muni.cz/
Mavrovouniotis, F. (2012). Inactivity in Childhood and Adolescence: A Modern Lifestyle Associated with Adverse Health Consequences. Sport Science Review, 21(3–4), 75–99. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10237-012-0011-https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270172481_Inactivity_in_Childhood_and_Adolescence_A_Modern_Lifestyle_Associated_with_Adverse_Health_Consequences
National Strength and Conditioning Association (2020) [Online]. Retrieved January 10, 2021, from https://www.nsca.com/cscs-exam-prerequisites/
NSCA Strength and Conditioning Professional Standards and Guidelines (2009) [Online]. Retrieved June 08, 2020, from https://www.nsca.com/globalassets/education/nsca_strength_and_conditioning_professional_standards_and_guidelines.pdf
Norges Idrettshøyskole 2023 [Online]. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from http://www.nih.no/studier/programmer/
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo 2021 [Online]. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.nih.no/
OECD. (2022). Our global reach – OECD. Oecd.org. https://www.oecd.org/about/members-and-partners/
OECD. (2023). Education at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators. In OECD iLibrary. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/education-at-a-glance-2023_e13bef63-en
Ontario Qualifications Framework | ontario.ca. (n.d.). Www.ontario.ca. https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-qualifications-framework
Our Programs. (n.d.). Faculty of Kinesiology. https://kinesiology.ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduates/our-programs
Petry, K., Froberg, K. & Madella, A. (Eds.) (2006). Thematic Network Project AEHESIS: Report of the Third Year. Cologne: Institute of European Sport Development & Leisure Studies, German Sport University Cologne.
Průcha, J. (2002). Moderní pedagogika. [Modern pedagogy]. Portál.
Průcha, J. (2006). Srovnávací pedagogika. [Comparative pedagogy]. Portál.
Ratamess, N. (2012). ACSM's Foundations of Strength Training and Conditioning. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments. (n.d.). Www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved December 29, 2023, from https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/grsssd/2023
Štverák, V. (2007). Obecná a srovnávací pedagogika. [General and comparative pedagogy]. Karolinum.
Thijs, A., & Van den Akker, J. (Eds.). (2009). Curriculum in development. SLO.
Trénerstvo. (n.d.). Fsport.uniba.sk. Retrieved January 14, 2024, from https://fsport.uniba.sk/studium/studijne-programy/bakalarske-studium/trenerstvo/
UNESCO. (2011). ISCED 2011 International Standard Classification of education. http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/international-standard-classification-of-education-isced-2011-en.pdf
Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, fakulta telesnej výchovy a športu 2021 [Online]. Retrieved March 23, 2021, from https://fsport.uniba.sk/
University, M. (n.d.). Fitness and Personal Trainer. Masaryk University Faculty of Sports Studies | MUNI SPORT. Retrieved January 14, 2024, from https://www.fsps.muni.cz/en/study/bachelors-study-in-czech/programmes/fitness-and-personal-trainer
University of Calgary, Faculty of Kinesiology 2021 [Online]. Retrieved March 23, 2021, from https://kinesiology.ucalgary.ca/
University of Calgary, Faculty of Kinesiology 2023 [Online]. Retrieved January 9, 2024, from https://kinesiology.ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduates/our-programs
Váňová, M. (1998). Teoretické a metodologické otázky srovnávací pedagogiky. [Theoretical and methodological issues of comparative pedagogy]. Pedagogická fakulta Univerzity Karlovy.
Vlček, P. (2009). Komparativní kinantropologie [Comparative Physical Education and Sport]. Česká kinantropologie, 13(1), 82–95.
Zatsiorsky, V. M., Kraemer, W. J., & Fry, A. C. (2021). Science and practice of strength training. Human Kinetics.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright © 2024 Richard Sporina, Vladimír Jůva, Associate professor, Juraj Szigeti