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Plan, deliver and evaluate a strength and conditioning programme

URN: SKAEAF16
Business Sectors (Suites): Exercise and fitness
Developed by: SkillsActive
Approved on: 30 Mar 2021

Overview

​This standard is about analysing, designing, performing and evaluating a strength and conditioning programme appropriate for, and tailored to, athletes of all abilities, ages and stages of maturational development.

Strength and conditioning coaches typically work without direct supervision but often as part of a multi-disciplinary support team. 

The main outcomes of this standard are:

  1. perform a needs analysis of the performance activity and athlete

  2. design and agree a strength and conditioning programme

  3. deliver, review and revise a strength and conditioning programme

This standard is for fitness instructors and personal trainers who will be working on the development of the athlete, focusing on what is needed to improve performance, such as strength, speed, endurance, mobility and movement competency.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

​

Perform a needs analysis of the performance activity and athlete

  1. identify and agree roles and responsibilities with the athlete and support team

  2. perform an appropriate needs analysis to evaluate the demands of the performance activity

  3. identify credible sources of information to support your analysis

  4. analyse the demands of the performance activity

  5. identify and agree the demands of the performance with the athlete, and support team

  6. analyse the interacting current performance capabilities of the athlete in relation to the performance activity

  7. identify and agree the profile with the athlete and support team

  8. evaluate performance demands and athlete capabilities

  9. develop and agree immediate, short term and long term performance targets with the athlete and support team, informed by performance demands and athlete capabilities

  10. develop and agree injury risk management targets

  11. agree a strategy to evaluate and review change in performance capabilities facilitating programme adaptation

Design and agree a strength and conditioning programme

  1. design a long term plan to achieve agreed performance goals taking into account key periodisation, planning considerations and adaptation to training

  2. design a short to medium term plan to achieve goals, set in the context of the longer-term plan

  3. plan training sessions taking into account key periodisation and planning considerations

  4. agree the programme with the athlete to allow independent engagement

  5. agree the programme with the support team to facilitate understanding and engagement

Deliver, review and revise a strength and conditioning programme

17. prepare facility and equipment provision for planned training session

  1. assess, agree and review the athlete's state of readiness and motivation to take part in the planned session

  2. oversee completion of a safe and effective session that will optimise the athletes performance within the session

  3. observe the athlete and analyse information available on performance

  4. provide feedback to facilitate improved performance and learning

  5. modify training activity based on overall aims and objectives within the session and athlete's status

  6. record modifications and evaluate implications for the session and programme plan

  7. select training partners and construct training groups to best facilitate session outcomes

  8. implement agreed monitoring

26. evaluate changes in athlete status and programme efficacy, and present outcomes to the athlete and support team

27. agree modifications to performance targets in light of changes in status

  1. make modifications to programme content in response to changes in athlete status, injury, or re-evaluation of ongoing programme efficacy

29. work safely at all times and in accordance with all relevant legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols

  1. seek specialist advice where necessary

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

​

Perform a needs analysis of the performance activity and athlete

1. the principles of anatomy and physiology including skeletal, cardiovascular, myofascial, nervous, endocrine, energy and digestive system

2. how to apply anatomy and physiology when planning and delivering progressive programmes for a range of athletes

3. the scope and professional boundaries of your own competence, responsibilites and accountability as it applies to your job role 4. needs analysis tools and techniques for analysing the demands of the performance activity and understanding how they interact 5. how to source up-to-date credible information to inform the strength and conditioning practice 6. communication skills required for agreeing the demands of the performance activity with the athlete and support team 7. how to collect and analyse the current performance capabilities of the athlete in relation to the demands of the performance activity 8. the significance of **fundamental differentiators** between athletes 9. how to decide the optimum **testing and monitoring methods** 10. the methodology for designing a **testing protocol** that can be used to collect information about the athlete 11. the different roles and responsibilities that are required and how to agree them with the athlete and support team 12. where to access and how to interpret the legal and organisational procedures that need to be considered for the athlete 13. why it is important to base performance targets on your analysis of athlete's needs 14. how to develop, agree and record short, medium and long term performance and injury risk targets for the athlete, taking into account barriers and ensuring they link to the training methods and athlete needs analysis 15. how to develop a strategy to evaluate and review changes in the agreed performance capabilities **Design and agree a strength and conditioning programme** 16. the key periodisation and planning considerations and the accumulation of adaptations to training 17. techniques used to design a structured and sequential strength and conditioning programme 18. features of a long term plan to achieve the agreed goals 19. features of a short to medium term plan, set in the context of the long term plan 20. techniques for designing and planning training sessions which take into account logistical factors 21. techniques of presenting a programme in a usable format for the athlete and support team 22. how to effectively modify the programme based on perceived programme efficacy and changes in circumstance 23. the types of sport classification 24. the logistical planning required to deliver a programme the requirements for **competent movement** **Deliver, review and revise a strength and conditioning programme** 25. the aims, content and rationale of the training plan from which a session is drawn, including the knowledge base utilised to design the programme 26. how to prepare the facility and select equipment for the planned training session 27. the skills involved in assessing the athlete's state of readiness and motivation for the planned session 28. how to manage the delivery of the training session to minimise risk of injury 29. evidence and guidelines relating to session management variables 30. how to effectively observe, give feedback and evaluate and improve the performance of the athlete 31. ways of modifying the training activity based on the aims of the training session and the performance and status of the athlete 32. how to record the performance of the athlete in training session outcomes 33. the implications of the training session outcomes and how to make required changes to the overall programme 34. techniques for providing effective demonstrations, explanations or instructions 35. techniques for managing and maintaining engagement of athletes, taking account of group and training partner dynamics, facility and equipment options and individual athlete motivations 36. how to implement the agreed monitoring strategies 37. how to evaluate the session outcomes, athlete status and overall programme efficacy and when to engage the athlete and support team in this evaluation 38. the effect of modifications to the performance targets and the impact of these modifications 39. how to evaluate and revise the programme and communicate with the athlete and support team 40. strategy development to inform programme adaption 41. the skills and knowledge possessed by others in the support team and how to engage with them 42. the current legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols which are relevant to your work practice and to which you must adhere

Scope/range

Scope Performance

​Demands to performance criteria

  1. physiological

2. biomechanical

  1. motor control

  2. sports specific movement patterns/speeds

  3. socio-psychological

  4. injury and illness epidemiology

  5. performance/competition parameters

  6. national and international rules, regulations and legislation

Performance capabilities

  1. physiological

  2. biomechanical

  3. movement competency

  4. socio-psychological

  5. injury and illness history

  6. performance/competition and training history

Key periodisation and planning considerations

  1. competition structure

  2. implications of concurrency of different training methods

  3. implications of ongoing volume and intensity of training

  4. the historical and current status of the athlete

  5. research evidence and knowledge of athlete training responses

  6. stimulus for adaptation provided by activity selected and dose

  7. delivered within training unit prescription

  8. fatigue imposed risks from training activity

9. time taken by training activity

  1. interaction of effects from chosen activities in short to medium term

Scope Knowledge

​
Fundamental differentiators

  1. age (chronological vs. biological)

2. training history (general training and specific training)

  1. gender

  2. disability status

Testing and monitoring methods

  1. discussions, interviews and questionnaires

2. physical/fitness tests

  1. collation of training data

  2. observation

  3. self-reflection

Testing protocol

  1. strength

2. power

  1. speed

  2. acceleration

  3. direction change

  4. complex agility

  5. aerobic capacity

  6. anaerobic capacity

  7. mobility

10. flexibility

  1. balance

Competent movement

  1. running (steady state, acceleration, sprinting)

  2. change of direction skills

  3. complex agility

  4. basic gymnastic manoeuvres

  5. jumping, landing and plyometrics

  6. mobility

  7. resistance training

8. weightlifting

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

31 Mar 2024

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

SkillsActive

Original URN

SKAEF27

Relevant Occupations

Coach / Instructor, Sport, Leisure and Recreation, Sports and Fitness Occupations, Sports Coaches

SOC Code

3433

Keywords

strength; conditioning; physical activity; exercise; plan; prepare; deliver; review; programmes