Strength and Conditioning Internship Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Strength and conditioning internships are crucial for individuals pursuing a career in athletic performance. These internships offer practical experience, skill development, and networking opportunities. This article delves into the requirements, structure, and benefits of strength and conditioning internships, drawing upon insights from experienced coaches and successful programs.

The Value of Strength and Conditioning Internships

An internship program can significantly advance a training program if structured correctly. In the past, internships were often viewed as a way to delegate menial tasks, such as setting up the weight room, cleaning, and folding towels. While these tasks are important, a modern internship should offer more to attract quality candidates and ensure the program's longevity.

Structuring a Successful Internship Program

To create a thriving internship program, it's essential to have a well-thought-out plan. Begin with the end in mind: What skills should interns possess upon completing the program? Aim to equip interns with the skills necessary to step into a graduate assistant position.

Curriculum Development

Developing a curriculum is vital for gaining credibility with academic departments and attracting serious applicants. A written course of study for interns demonstrates a commitment to their education and development. This curriculum should outline the knowledge and skills interns will acquire during their time in the program.

Coaching Philosophy and Skill Development

Interns should learn how to effectively communicate with athletes and improve their nonverbal communication. They can lead group warm-up, cooldown, and stretching sessions under the supervision of professional staff. Furthermore, interns should be able to explain fundamental concepts such as the force-velocity curve, the size principle of motor unit recruitment, and the basics of energy systems.

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Progressive Responsibilities

As interns progress, they should take on increasing levels of responsibility. Second-semester interns can create annual plans for teams and develop workout templates. They should also be able to explain abstract theories like the stretch-shortening cycle and the sliding filament theory and apply them in training sessions.

Advanced Intern Roles

Undergraduates who have been in the program for an extended period can be treated like graduate assistants. They can create content for social media channels, attend meetings with sport coaches and the athletic department, and be given full responsibility for managing a lifting group. This includes designing lifting, agility, conditioning, and nutrition programs.

Creating a Positive Internship Environment

It's crucial to create an environment where interns feel valued and motivated. Avoid making interns feel miserable or anonymous. Management should be involved and provide feedback and suggestions.

Relevance and Impact

Interns should understand how their work contributes to the overall success of the program and the athletes they support. Explain how their actions impact the delivery drivers, the teams that set up the products, and the sales force. This helps interns feel relevant and appreciated.

Feedback and Suggestions

Encourage interns to provide feedback and suggestions for improving the program. Give them opportunities to assess themselves and find better ways to do things. This fosters a sense of ownership and encourages continuous improvement.

Recruitment and Hiring Strategies

The key to a successful internship program is attracting the right people. Avoid generic job postings that ask for anyone to fill the spot. Instead, create a posting that attracts individuals who are a good fit for the program's culture and expectations.

The Right Fit

The internship posting should attract people who are willing to work long hours in a demanding environment with minimal compensation. These individuals should be passionate about learning and making a positive impact on student-athletes' lives.

Learning from the Past

Reflecting on past experiences can help improve the recruitment process. If previous interns were unprepared or had negative experiences, it's essential to address the root causes and make necessary changes.

University of Pennsylvania Strength & Conditioning Internship Program

The University of Pennsylvania Strength & Conditioning Department offers an internship program committed to the growth of its interns through coaching development, program design, and professional networking. This unpaid position provides valuable knowledge for those pursuing a career in strength and conditioning.

Responsibilities and Duties

Interns are required to commit a minimum of 15 hours per week as a secondary coach to the full-time staff, assisting with both weight room and on-field sessions. Their duties include setting up and breaking down sessions, cueing and hands-on coaching, and daily operations, including facility upkeep.

Coaching Philosophy

The program emphasizes teaching young coaches how to deliver their message and develop soft skills related to emotional intelligence, creating athlete buy-in, effective communication, and team collaboration.

Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) Practicum/Internship Program

The CSCCa offers a practicum/internship program that is a prerequisite to sit for the SCCC Certification Exam. This program requires specific criteria to be met.

Requirements

To be eligible for the CSCCa practicum/internship, candidates must meet certain requirements:

Must be an undergraduate senior (with a minimum of 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours). Proof of this must be submitted in the form of an official transcript, a letter from the individual's department chairman or dean, or a verification of senior status from the institution's records office.
Must be completed under the supervision of a CSCCa-Approved Mentor.
A minimum of 640 hours must be completed. A frequently used timeline for completing the 640-hour practicum/internship is 20 hours per week, 80 hours per month, over an 8-9 month period.
A Practicum Waiver & Information Form must be submitted to the CSCCa National Office prior to beginning the practicum/internship.
A $230.00 practicum fee is required to cover CSCCa administrative costs of the program.

Important Considerations

The CSCCa approves mentors based upon an objective standard and is not liable for any independent acts of mentors or employers that are inconsistent with the educational intent of the internship/practicum process. An Internship Completion Verification form must be signed and submitted to the CSCCa National Office by the mentor before the candidate is allowed to sit for the exam.

Kinesiology Internship Programs

Internships within a Division of Kinesiology offer hands-on work experience that allows students to apply classroom learning to real-world settings.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Kinesiology internship, students must be a junior or senior in the Kinesiology B.S. program. Students must complete all required assignments by the deadlines specified in the application portal.

Responsibilities

Students are responsible for securing their own internship and are not placed by the Division of Kinesiology. The application portal provides guidance in finding a site that aligns with career goals.

Program Objectives

Kinesiology internships should offer new educational learning experiences for the student and be an extension of the classroom as a learning experience that provides for the application of knowledge gained in the classroom. These internships are supported by objectives outlined in an official internship manual.

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