NSCA’s Coaching Podcast

Contracted Human Performance and Optimization Coach of 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regimen Jeff Carroll talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about his start in the field of strength and conditioning and his transition from professional athletes to a tactical population and setting. Topics under discussion include: Carroll’s career path, coaching professional athletes, transitioning to tactical strength and conditioning, and the future of tactical strength and conditioning. Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfieldShow Notes Show Notes: “As an intern, you’re not owed anything; it’s the will to go above and beyond.” 14:00 “The strongest guy is not always the best player. Some athletes are just naturally talented.” 21:00 “The lifestyle is very rewarding, but very intensive.” 22:00 “You need to volunteer and get experience to really get into that world.” 45:00 “In the tactical world, you are dealing with the world’s premier soldiers, so it’s hard to break into.” 45:30 “However you can, whatever you can do, you need to understand the military world and what they have to do.” 46:00 “A military soldier’s number one factor is the guy to the right and to the left of them.” 47:00

Bert Sorin, President and Co-Owner of Sorinex Exercise Equipment, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about Bert Sorin’s upbringing and his experience being a collegiate athlete, how Sorinex is contributing to the field, and how TSAC is continuing to grow and improve. Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfield Find Bert Sorin on Instagram: @bertsorin @sorinex Or Email info@sorinex.com & bert@sorinex.com  Show Notes “Taking the science, taking the training, taking the strength gains and making them into something.” 4:12 “I learned pretty quickly that there are genetic freaks in this world.” 13:18 “My life revolved around gaining weight, getting strong, and throwing far.” 14:23 “How you do anything is how you do everything.” 17:25 “Two things that I’ve noticed from people who have become successful: one is positivity, I’ve never seen a champion who is generally negative. They always believe there is a shot. Two is curiosity, keeps you pushing the edges and always fighting for the last inch.” 21:08 “People get into business because they like what they do, not because they like business.” 33:19 “If you only have one source of knowledge or a group of knowledge, then you only have a specific source of experiences.” 39:52“SET: struggle, eat, and talk.” 43:38

Justin Roethlingshoefer, Head Strength Coach of the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League and Devan McConnell, Head of Hockey Performance at University of Massachusetts Lowell, talk to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about their the idea and creation of their book, Intent, as well as their path to strength and conditioning for high performance hockey athletes. Topics under discussion include: training for hockey athletes, sports science, and Intent. Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfieldShow Notes “Diversify your experience, not everything is always the same.” 6:08 “Get your foot in the door and get as many experiences as you can get.” 9:31 “Without question, I think coaches should have experience in a lot of different aspects.” 15:34 “Never be afraid to ask for help and enjoy the journey.” 19:19 “Bringing that work ethic, openness, and willingness to do what it takes goes a long way.” 19:46 “Be genuine and someone who wants to help others.” 22:38 “It’s an obligation to give something back that we’ve taken so much from.” 31:25

Bobby Smith, owner and Director of Sports Performance at Reach Your Potential Training, talks to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about the transition to owning his own facility and his impact on youth athletes. Topics under discussion include Smith’s education and previous athletic experience that led him to sports performance, being the owner of a sports performance facility, and his impact on youth athletes. Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfield Instagram:igotrypt Instagram: coachbobbysmith Email:bobby@igotrypt.comShow Notes “You can get into their [high school athletes’] minds and not only change their movement patterns, but the way they think.” 7:08 “I’ve got to know the why’s behind what I do.” 10:48        “Organization is key to success.” 12:10 “My leadership style was always ‘watch what I do and do what I do,’ and realizing that’s not how it works. You’ve got to communicate, you’ve got to lead, you’ve got to develop, you’ve got to help out and see them in action.” 18:40 “Drop the ego and let’s see how we can help each other.” 23:38

The Head Performance and Strength Coach for the Sacramento Kings National Basketball Association (NBA) team, Ramsey Nijem, talks to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about his recent experience completing a doctoral degree as well as his path to his current position. Topics under discussion include Nijem’s educational track from bachelor’s to master’s to doctorate degree, his passion for basketball and how it lead him to his career, as well as his mentors and professors who helped him along the way.  Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfield Find Ramsey on Instagram: @ramsey_nijem Find Ramsey on Twitter: ramsey_m_nijemShow Notes “I want to train athletes. I want to study athletes.” 5:57 “It starts with education on the front end” 26:27 “We’ve got to do what we can to keep these athletes fresh” 29:54  “NBA players may not want to live in the weight room, but they want to compete" 33:10 “We need to be flexible and adaptable to the changes that different loads cause in our athletes” 36:08 “Nothing has to be super complex” 38:37 “Get that kind of new hire that you can learn from and grow with, but also go get a beer with” 41:08 “Before you try to fix a guy’s squat, learn his name” 44:54

Robert Panariello, Chief Clinical Officer with Professional Physical Therapy and the Professional Athletic Performance Center, talks to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about education in the field, being a well-rounded coach to excel or compliment your career, and key things to remember in the strength and conditioning field. Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfieldShow Notes “Doing something not for the monetary value, but for the rewarding experience.” 9:24 “The exercise in relation to physical therapy really put me on the map in regards to publications or lecturing because I think we were doing things that a lot of people weren’t doing.” 9:45 “I think it’s real important to make you roll up your sleeves and get into areas that you’re into to dig deep.” 10:37 “It’s like anything else, one day you’re an intern you just learn and ten years later you’re a head strength coach.” 11:56 “I think players look for discipline, they want to be coached.” 19:18 “I think you also have to hold people accountable.” 20:18 “Coaching is an art and a wisdom to develop.” 22:38 “Key tenant is relationship building in the industry.” 28:00

Greg Haff, former President of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), current course coordinator for post graduate studies in strength and conditioning at Edith Cowan University, and Senior Associate Editor for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, talks to the NSCA’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about his journey through strength and conditioning and his efforts to progress the field during his time as president of the NSCA. Topics under discussion include: his years being NSCA Board of Director President, the future of the profession, how he got involved in the NSCA, key traits of icons in the field, traits for potential incoming students, and how to get into sports science.Show Notes “To be great sport scientists, we have be great sport coaches.” 3:28 “Accreditation of schools, I think, is a game changer for the profession.” 4:25 “Blending the feeling, the coaching, the science, is what this change is designed to do.” 6:45 “That challenge will make them better.” 6:56 “Do good work and everything else falls in line.” 13:29 “I think of sports science as a relationship with coaches.” 14:06 “I’m not looking for the smartest guy or gal in the room, I’m looking for passion and work ethic.” 17:29 “For me, the weight room has always been the microcosm of life. It really reveals character.” 17:54 “Coaching is communication.” 22:18 “Choose mentors who you truly want to be the people to guide you.” 23:45 “That’s the amazing thing about the NSCA and the professionals here is that they’re so approachable.” 24:36 “We’ve got to keep evolving the training of strength coaches.” 26:38 “It’s a lot tougher now with all the noise from social media to really know which information is correct.” 27:05

Ashley Jackson, Nicole Dabbs, and Kourtney Thomas have been very influential in each of their careers in the field of strength and conditioning and are a part of the executive council of the National Strength and Conditioning Associations (NSCA) Women’s Committee. They talk with NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about their journey in the field of strength and conditioning and how to teach and influence future coaches. Topics under discussion include: internships, experience, networking, mentorship, and current/ future roles of women in strength and conditioning. Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfieldShow Notes “I’m not just supporting strength coaches, or just female strength coaches – I’m making sure that the best people are here and a part of our profession and being supported.” -          Ashley 2:56 “Reach out to people and say ‘hey here’s the reason why I think you’re amazing – I love what you do and I’d like to learn more about it.’” Kourtney 5:45 “It’s important to have someone who supports you and is leading you into your profession.” Nicole 7:15 “More importantly, you have to take control of yourself and your own future… you’ve got to show up.” Nicole 7:21 “We’re all leading student-athletes, we’re all trying to empower and cultivate a good culture with these young kids and they [sport coaches at Michigan] do a really good job of it. Why can’t I use some of the things they’re doing?” Ashley 11:20 “I make sure my students have every opportunity they’re willing to take… to better themselves and put them in a good position.” Nicole           15:40 “I think that education is first thing you need to take care of and then getting in a weight room and physically training yourself, getting comfortable with a barbell, getting comfortable with what ‘hurt’ feels like and being able to talk about it and communicate it with someone else.” Ashley 20:18 “Do the necessary requirements… put in your time, do whatever it takes to get there.”  Ashley 21:41 “Don’t give up what you want most for what you want now.” Scott 21:48 “Volunteer and apply—if you meet the minimum requirements, you never know!”  Nichole 23:42 “Open your brain to what you are passionate about and how you might want to help people and how you can do that.” Kourtney 26:16 “We [NSCA] need to build a culture that is inclusive.” Nicole 28:28 “If we want something changed, then we have to be a part of that.” Ashley 29:56

Matt Wenning a renowned power lifter and strength and conditioning coach who has over 12,000 hours of experience as a Division I college strength coach in a variety of sports, including football, track and field, swimming, baseball, as well as United States Army Rangers, firefighters, triathletes, and general populations. Matt talks to the NSCA’s Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield.  Matt’s discusses the obstacles he had to go through both academically (undergrad and grad school) and physically (powerlifting) to get where he is today. Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfield   : Instagram: @realmattwenning; Website: wenningstrength.comShow Notes “Sometimes, it’s complete strangers that you rub the right way that change the course of your entire life.” 11:22 “The jobs you have don’t make you, it’s the jobs you can turn down.” 26:28 “It’s not about optimal training, it’s about optimal training for you.” 30:20 “If you want to be a great coach, set yourself apart as many ways you can.” 35:28 “Be somebody that their opinion matters.” 39:00 “Education and experimentation are what made it get better.” 40:50

Joe Kenn, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Carolina Panthers, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about… well… a little bit of everything. Follow Coach Kenn on Twitter: @bighousepower |‏ Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfieldShow Notes “I just love being in the weight room. It’s just a good place.” 15:47 “The best readiness app you have is yourself—building a strong enough relationship with that player that they will be honest with you.” 17:35 “You have to do right by the athlete, regardless of what the model looks like.” 23:38 “You’ve got to know your role and you’ve got to manage your expectations.” 26:38 “How much simpler can I make it for this athlete so that all they have to do is get out there and go?” 33:30 “The comfortable choice isn’t necessarily the best choice.” 50:24 “I enjoy the process, I enjoy the work. It’s not a grind for me, I love being in here.” 1:04:32