Higher Certificate in Strength & Conditioning

Course Content

Progression is from the six modules of the Certificate in Strength and Conditioning, through to the more advanced modules of the Higher Certificate.

The additional 6 modules completed in this course include:

Modules covered:

1. Anatomy, Physiology & Biomechanics
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   Module 1: Anatomy, Physiology & Biomechanics

   This module ensures that the student understands and appreciates how the body is built, works and moves. It examines how energy is provided and how the muscles and nerves integrate to ensure movement in sport. It also describes the skeletal, cardiovascular and endocrine systems. The module provides an excellent A&P background to students of Strength and Conditioning studies. By the end of the module the learner will:

   • Be familiar with the systems that govern the functioning of the body
   • Display a depth of knowledge and understanding of the systems of the body during exercise
   • Apply  knowledge of the systems of the body to their training methodology
   • Demonstrate skills in assessing and monitoring posture and movement

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2. Youth Athletic Development
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   Module 2: Youth Ahtletic Development

   This module introduces the coach to Youth Athletic Development. It aims to describe the physical activity and movement development opportunities within society in general and specifically within a physical education, sporting and non-sport related setting. The module traces the development of the child through to adulthood in terms of rudimentary, fundamental and athletic movement skill and sport-specific skills.The coach will develop the theoretical and applied skills to devise a long term plan adapted to his or her sport. Throughout the module, the origins and principles of long-term athletic planning will be considered as well as the stages of development within a range of models. The module also aims to critique the limitations of such models in terms of the practical application of a model’s aims and outcomes. By the end of the module, the learner will:
   Identify the opportunities and challenges that exist in enhancing and attaining a mature stage of development in physical movement patterns.
   Assess and coach rudimentary and fundamental movement skills.
   Construct a programme of practical progressions of formal and informal play and physical activity.

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3. Sport & Exercise Nutrition
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   Sport & Exercise Nutrition

   This module provides the learner with key nutritional knowledge that will allow the learner to support physical performance in terms of energy and its recovery within the role as strength and conditioning coach or exercise specialist as a personal trainer. Understanding the limitation of their role the learner will become competent in describing the recommended nutritional guidelines to support performance. By the end of the module, the learner will:

   • Describe the recommended nutritional guidelines to support exercise participation and athletic performance.
   • Demonstrate specialised assessment and application skills within the area of nutritional analysis.
   • Formulate a nutritional programme for a specified athlete following a dietary assessment and activity demands assessment.

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4. Coaching Skills
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   Module 4: Coaching Skills

   This module introduces the coach to how athletes and players learn skills and the various approaches to teaching and coaching skills and competencies. It also examines the progression of skill learning from a young age through to adult participation. It also examines the impact of physical education and sport coaching on sport performance issues. The area of sport and participants with disabilities will also be discussed. By the end of this module the learner will:

   • Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the stages and processes of motor control and learning
   • Appreciate the issues and approaches to coaching skills in participants with disabilities
   • Apply the knowledge of Growth and Development into a practical coaching programme
   • Be familiar with physical education curricula and sporting associations coaching rationale

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5. Coaching Technology & Fitness Testing
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   Module 5: Coaching Technology & Fitness Testing

   The learner in this module can expect to gain a broad understanding of the issues relating to technology in sport and be able to display specialist skills in using and interpreting specific technological items that relate to the physical, physiological and biomechanical assessment of the individual athlete or team. The ability to effectively assess and monitor an athlete is a key part of the strength and conditioning process. Increasingly, this assessment utilises technological advancements in analysis. The module aims to provide students with the required knowledge and applied skills to enable them to plan and conduct effective fitness testing batteries for a range of sports and to appropriately evaluate performance. The learning outcomes are as follows:

   • Critically evaluate the efficacy of commonly used coaching technologies within the sport and exercise industries.
   • Assess the reliability of gym-based work-related instruments and applications.
   • Exhibit specialised technical and practical skills in testing and monitoring performance.
   • Evaluate fitness testing outcomes and make appropriate recommendations.

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6. Business of Fitness & Sport
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   Module 6: Business of Fitness & Sport

   This new module will address key concepts related to the business of sport and exercise and in particular on providing case study guidance as to effective practice in the market research, employment opportunity creation, marketing and the use of social media in the promotion of a potential business. The foundations of creating a business based on supplying services and innovative technologies that capture the ever changing and varied context of the support of sport related training, general exercise, health and fitness and personal training will be considered. At the end of this module the learner will:

   • Display a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the goals and objectives of a business in the strength and conditioning and personal training fields.
   • Display a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the regulatory laws and requirements affecting small businesses.

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