CSCS Organization and Administration

General Aspects of New Facility Design

- *Forming a committee of professionals is the first step in planning a new strength and conditioning facility.* Predesign phase: usually requires 25% of the total project time (6 months). *Greatest priority is creating a needs analysis or assessment. A feasibility study is conducted to determine costs, facility location, programs of interest.* Design phase: may require 10-12% of the total project time (~ 3 months). *Work with the architect to finalize blueprints, include equipment specifications, spacing is designed to be user friendly, facility is designed to provide easy access to all athletes.* Construction phase: normally 50% of total project time (about 12 months). *Deadlines must be set and adhered to.* Pre-operation phase: also called the start-up phase requires about 15% of total project time (3-4 months). *Focuses on staffing considerations.*

Facility Administration

- *In-season teams typically have priority over off-season teams, because often the training schedule revolves around the practice and game schedule.*

Instruction and Supervision

- *Instruction involves teaching an athlete a skill in a safe manner and correcting the athlete if necessary.* - *Direct supervision is required to achieve maximum performance, safety, and instruction.* - *Staff members should have the ability to clearly communicate and view both the athlete and the zone being supervised* - Spotting, in conjunction with the use of appropriate safety equipment, is critical - Supervision was cited in an estimated 80% of court cases in which athletic injuries occurred.

Code of Ethics and Professionalism

- A code of ethics comprises the standards and principles for which the professional will be held accountable. - Strength and conditioning professionals should become familiar with the NSCA Code of Ethics as well as their institution's code of ethics and student-athlete code of conduct if applicable.

Director of Strength and Conditioning (Head Strength and Conditioning Coach)

- Both a practitioner and an administrator. - Responsible for the overall strength and conditioning program, facility, equipment, staff, and such administrative tasks as preparing a budget, purchasing equipment, preparing proposals, and working with administration and media. - Responsible for developing, presenting, and enforcing the written policies and procedures of the staff and participants in the program. - Ensures that staff are properly trained and prepared

Components of an Emergency Action Plan

- EMS (emergency medical services) activation procedures - Names and telephone numbers of primary , secondary, and tertiary individuals to contact - Specific address of the strength and conditioning facility (to give directions to EMS) - Locations of the telephones - Locations of nearest exits - Designated personnel qualified to care for injuries (i.e., sports medicine staff) - Ambulance access - Location of emergency supplies and first aid kit - Plan of action in case of fire, tornado, life-threatening injury, crime, terrorism, and so forth

Eligibility Criteria

- Full or part-time student-athletes participating in an athletic department-sponsored sport - Newly incoming and just-transferred student-athletes who have registered for school and have confirmation of team status as designated by the head sport coach - Students in physical education classes - All athletic department coaching and administrative staff - All sports medicine department staff - Alumni athletes who participated in an athletic department sponsored sport and completed their eligibility - Individuals and groups approved by the athletic director or director of strength and conditioning.

Assessing Athletic Program Needs

- How many athletes will use the facility? - What are the training goals for the athletes, coaches, and administration? - What are the demographics of the athletes? - What will the training experience of the athletes be? (e.g. novice, intermediate, advanced)? - How will the athletes be scheduled? - What equipment needs to be repaired or modified?

Liability Insurance

- It is essential for strength and conditioning staff members to purchase professional liability insurance, especially if they are not covered under the facility policy.

Staff-to-Athlete Ratio

- Junior high strength and conditioning facilities should not exceed a 1:10 staff-to-athlete ratio. - *High school facilities should not exceed a 1:15 ratio.* - *College should not exceed a 1:20 ratio.*

Reporting and Documentation

- Personnel credentials - Professional standards and guidelines - Policies and procedures for operation and safety (written emergency plan) - Equipment user manuals provided by the manufacturer (warranties, operating guidelines, installation, setup) - Equipment and facility maintenance (inspection, maintenance, cleaning, and repair) - Preparticipation medical clearance - Return-to-participation clearance - Protective legal documents such as informed consent, waiver of claim, personal contract - Training logs, evaluation entries, instruction notes

Product Liability

- Refers to the legal responsibilities of those who manufacture or sell products if a person sustains injury or damage as a result of using the product.

Record Keeping

- Secure records should be kept on file of cleaning and maintenance, safety procedures, manufacturer's warranties and guidelines, assumption-of-risk or other informed consent forms, medical waivers and clearance forms, personnel credentials, professional guidelines and recommendations (e.g., use of weight belts, resistance training techniques), and injury report forms - Injury report forms should be maintained as long as possible in case an injury suit is filed.

Pre-participation Screening and Medical Clearance

- Strength and Conditioning Professional Standards and Guidelines Standard 1.1 ―requires participants to undergo health care provider screening and clearance before participation. - Procedures should be in place to ensure that documentation confirming that each athlete was screened and cleared to participate by the sports medicine staff is on record in the main office of the strength and condition. - *It is the responsibility of the sports medicine staff (e.g., the team or program's certified athletic trainer, physician, or physical therapist) to allow an athlete to begin formal involvement in the strength and conditioning program.* o *It is NOT in the strength and conditioning professional's scope of practice (i.e., proper legal parameters and professional duties) to diagnose or evaluate an individual's medical or health condition.*

Workout Sheet (Workout Card)

- Strength and conditioning activities should be prearranged, and therefore athletes must have an approved workout sheet when training. - Additional workouts should be approved by the overseeing strength and conditioning coach to ensure proper intensity and volume-load monitoring.

Existing Strength and Conditioning Facilities

- Strength and conditioning professionals often assume responsibility for an existing facility. *The focus is on improving and reorganizing to meet current needs.* - The strength and conditioning professional should *assess existing equipment based on the needs of all athletes and teams that use the facility*.

Strength and Conditioning Performance Team

- The director of strength and conditioning is responsible for delineating the appropriate duties and responsibilities to the strength and conditioning staff for program design, exercise technique, organization and administration, and testing and evaluation. - The productivity of a Strength and Conditioning staff, as well as learning and skill development of individual members, should be enhanced by aligning a performance team comprised of qualified practitioners with interdependent expertise and shared leadership roles.

Staff Preparedness

1. Maintenance of professional certification 2. Maintenance of certification in standard first aid, CPR, and AED 3. Review of emergency response procedures a. Rudimentary first aid procedures annually b. Common training facility injuries and their prevention c. Building evacuation plan 4. Knowledge and understanding of program policies and procedures a. Review of room capacity and safe supervision ratios b. Review of preparticipation screening and clearance procedure c. Review of personal and professional liability, negligence, and insurance coverage issues 5. Knowledge and understanding of governing body rules and regulations a. Review of general knowledge of regulations b. Review of rules specific to administering the strength and conditioning program 6. Knowledge and understanding of cleaning and maintenance issues and needs 7. Knowledge and understanding of program philosophy and instruction methods a. Technique and drill instruction b. Body composition guidelines and nutritional consultation c. Motivational issues Pushing athletes beyond physical limits Athletes who overtrain Athletes who refuse to follow program recommendations

Mission Statement and Program Goals

A mission statement is an organization's statement of purpose o *Addresses three important components: target clientele (key market), what service is being provided (contribution), and what makes the service unique (distinction)* Program goals are the desired end products of a strength and conditioning program, stated in a broad, general manner. o An effective strength and conditioning program should be based on scientific principles to enhance performance and increase injury resistance.

Circuit Training Area

Circuit training machines should be at least 24 inches preferably 36 inches away from each other. Any designated walkways in the circuit training area should be between 4 and 7 feet wide.

Traffic Flow

Create two or three main walkways that should be at least 36 inches wide.

Emergency Equipment

Emergency equipment should be readily available in an emergency situation.

Chapter 23

Facility Design, Layout and Organization

Chapter 24

Facility Policies, Procedures, and Legal Issues

Discipline (Tiered Penalty System)

First offense - a verbal warning by a staff member Second offense - Dismissal from the facility for one day, documentation of the offense Third offense - Dismissal from the facility for one week Fourth offense - Dismissal from the facility for the remainder of the year Fifth offense - Permanent dismissal from the facility.

Stretching and Warm Up Area

If possible, there should be *at least 49 square feet of open space* so that athletes can perform a dynamic warm-up, as well as enough room for multiple people to be using the area at the same time.

Emergency Communication

Immediate communication is crucial to quick delivery of emergency care.

Common Legal Terminology

Informed consent — the process by which a procedure or activity is described to a participant, with an explanation of the inherent risks and benefits involved, allowing the individual to determine if he or she desires to participate. Standard of care — what a reasonable and prudent person would do under similar circumstances. Negligence — failure to act as a reasonable and prudent person would under similar circumstances. Four elements must exist in order for a strength and conditioning professional to be found negligent: duty , breach of duty , proximate cause , and damages Assumption of risk — knowing that an inherent risk exists with participation in an activity and voluntarily deciding to participate anyway

Suggested criteria for an effective mission statement (according to the Drucker Foundation)

Is short and sharply focused Is clear and easy to understand It defines why the organization exists It does not prescribe means It is broad in scope It provides direction for upholding the code of ethics It addresses and matches the organization's scope of practice. It inspires our commitment

Free Weights

Lined up along a wall with enough room to walk between the wall and weights and with at least 36 inches between the ends of racked bars.

Designing a Strength and Conditioning Facility

Location - ideally located on the ground floor Supervision Location - ideally should be centrally located Access - should be accessible to people with disabilities, with either a ramp or a wheelchair lift, *a ramp should run 12 inches for every 1-inch rise.* Ceiling Height - *especially in platform areas should have 12 to 14 ft of clearance from low hanging items.* Flooring - carpet or rubberized flooring, or indoor turf for plyometric or agility exercises Electrical Service - needs to be properly grounded to protect the system from lightning strikes or power surges. Mirrors - *should be placed at least 6 inches away from any equipment and a minimum of 20 inches above the floor.* Other Considerations - Drinking Fountains, Locker rooms, Telephones for those with disabilities, Bumper rails or padding, Storage room

Policies and Procedures

Policies - a facility's rules and regulations; they reflect the goals and objectives of the program. Procedures - describe how policies are met or carried out.

Environmental Factors for a Strength and Conditioning Facility

Proper lighting, temperature, humidity, air circulation, sound levels. The lights should be between *50 and 100 lumens.* Most sources indicate that anywhere between *68 °F and 78 °F (20-25 °C) is a good temperature range*. In any space where there is physical activity, *relative humidity should not exceed 60%*. The air should be exchanged anywhere from 8 to 12 times per hour to prevent odors caused by stagnant air. A general guideline is *two to four fans for every 1,200 square feet.* *Sound should be less than 90 decibels so that athletes can hear instructions and cues*.

Weightlifting Area

Racks and platforms should be spaced 3 to 4 feet apart and bolted to the floor.

Aerobic Area

Requires 24 ft2 for bikes and stair machines, 45 ft2 for treadmills, rowers 40 ft2, these numbers include the needed space between machines.

Maintaining and Cleaning Areas

Scheduling frequent maintenance and cleaning ensures safe training, protects investments, and maintain the strength and conditioning facility's appearance. Flooring - inspect daily, swept, mopped, and vacuumed. Vertical Surfaces - cleaned, cracked mirrors replaced. Ceilings - dust fixtures and attachments regularly. Environmental Factors - prevent mold, mildew, and rust

Equipment Placement

Should be grouped into sections such as a stretching and warm-up area, agility and plyometrics, free weights, aerobic area, and resistance machines. Free weights and racks should be organized along the wall, and there should be walkways between the free weights and machines Machines can be lined up in the middle of the weight room to make a walkway on each side of the room. Tall machines should be bolted to the floor or a column or a wall Cardiorespiratory machines should be in their own section and should be lined up and organized *Barbells and dumbbells should have a minimum of 36 inches of space between other barbells and dumbbells* *Weight trees placed in close proximity to plate loaded equipment, while maintaining 36 in separation.* *There should be at least 36 inches of space for walking around the entire rack* *Equipment should be placed at least 6 in from mirrors.*

Program Objectives

Specific means of attaining program goals. Sample list o Design training programs that create the desired results in body composition, hypertrophy, strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, speed, agility, coordination, balance, and power. o Develop training programs to account for biomechanical and physiological differences among individual athletes. o Recognize acute and chronic physiological responses and adaptations to training. o Educate athletes on the importance of good nutrition. o Educate athletes about the abuse and effects of performance enhancing substance.

Environmental Situations

Step 1: Activate the appropriate alarm and get everyone directed to a predetermined safe location. Step 2: Call 911 for medical help if necessary. Step 3: Account for all parties and notify rescue personnel. Step 4: Activate the emergency communication plan to notify appropriate parties. Step 5: Document incident on injury report.

Non-life-threatening situations

Step 1: Provide first aid. Step 2: Call 911 for medical help if necessary. Step 3: Activate the emergency communication plan to notify appropriate parties. Step 4: Document incident on injury report.

Life-threatening situations

Step 1: call 911. Step 2: Do not move victim. Step 3: If victim is conscious, ask permission to administer first aid. Step 4: Administer CPR or AED if necessary. Step 5: Stay with victim until help arrives. Step 6: Activate the emergency communication plan to notify appropriate parties. Step 7: Document incident on injury report.

Supplements, Ergogenic Aids and Banned Substances

Strength and Conditioning professionals must not prescribe, recommend or provide drugs, controlled substances or supplements that are illegal, prohibited or harmful to participants for any purpose including enhancing athletic performance, conditioning or physique.

Program Design Policy

The director of strength and conditioning should oversee and monitor all performance training programs, including reconditioning

Strength and Conditioning Staff (Personal Qualifications)

The possession of a certification from an independently accredited organization, such as the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification, establishes a standard of care. - The NCAA Division I adopted legislation ―To specify that a strength and conditioning coach shall be certified and maintain current certification through a nationally accredited strength and conditioning certification program. - Assistant strength and conditioning professionals should also achieve and maintain a professional certification including standard first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and automated external defibrillation (AED).

Emergency Personnel

The strength and conditioning professional and any personnel associated with practices, skill instruction, and strength and conditioning should acquire and maintain a professional certification including standard first aid, CPR, and AED

Arranging Equipment in the Strength and Conditioning Facility

There are safety and efficiency recommendations for each type of equipment and mode of exercise. *Safety and function are top priorities when one is deciding on placement of equipment in a facility.*

What is the minimum recommended space between the ends of racks to provide room for spotters?

a. 1 foot (30cm) b. 2 feet (61cm) c. 3 feet (91cm) d. 4 feet (123cm) Answer is C

What is the recommended minimum distance between the floor and the bottom of mirrors on the walls?

a. 16 inches (41cm) b. 18 inches (46cm) c. 20 inches (51cm) d. 22 inches (56cm) Answer is C

What is the recommended coach-to-participant ratio during peak weight room usage time in a collegiate setting?

a. 1:10 b. 1:15 c. 1:20 d. 1:25 Answer is c

Which of the following is NOT a key consideration when determining the space requirements of a college strength and conditioning facility?

a. accessibility for the athletes b. amount and type of equipment c. number of athletes using the facility d. number of athletic teams desiring to use the facility Answer is D

Which of the following individuals is responsible for allowing an athlete to begin formal involvement in a strength and conditioning program?

a. athletic director b. athlete's parent or guardian c. team's certified athletic trainer d. strength and conditioning professional Answer is C

What is the order of the four phases involved in designing a new strength and conditioning facility?

a. construction, predesign, design, preoperation b. preoperation, design, construction, predesign c. predesign, construction, design d. predesign, design, construction, preoperation Answer is D

Which of the following is NOT a component of an emergency plan?

a. emergency medicine b. emergency communication c. emergency equipment d. emergency personnel Answer is A

The strength and conditioning professional's knowledge and skill development includes competencies in all of the following EXCEPT

a. exercise and sport science b. administration and management c. finance and appraisal d. teaching and coaching Answer is C

Proper documentation is essential to the strength and conditioning facility. Which of the following is NOT part of the records that should be kept on file in the strength and conditioning facility?

a. manufacturer's user's manual b. participant training logs c. written emergency plan d. medical health history Answer is D

An operational plan should be created in which of the following phases?

a. predesign phase b. design phase c. construction phase d. preoperation phase Answer is A

Risk Management

is the employment of strategies to decrease and control the risk of injury from athletic participation and therefore the risk of liability exposure.

Roles within Emergency Team

o Four principal roles exist - First is to provide immediate care of the athletes - Second involves emergency equipment retrieval - Next is the activation of the emergency medical system (EMS) - Finally, the individual making the call should have been familiarized with the facility location during the orientation meeting.

To avoid injury to athletes caused by strength and conditioning equipment, the following steps should be taken:

o Use equipment only for the purpose intended by the manufacturer. o Be certain that equipment meets existing professional standards and guidelines. o Buy only from reputable manufacturers. o Do not modify equipment unless such adaptations are clearly designated and instructions for doing so are included in the product information. o Apply all warning labels that accompany a new equipment purchase. o Continually inspect equipment for damage and wear that may place an athlete at risk for injury. o Do not allow unsupervised athletes to use equipment.

Common criteria by which to determine whether outside organizations can use a strength and conditioning facility:

o Use must be preapproved by the athletic director. o Use must be preapproved by the strength and conditioning director. o The program or session must be supervised by strength and conditioning department staff. o The program or session must be scheduled during off-hours when athletes are not present. o The individual or organization must supply written proof of additional liability insurance. o All participants must sign a release agreement form. o All participants must follow the rules and regulations of the strength and conditioning facility. o The athletic director and the strength and conditioning director have the right to limit an individual's or group's access, if warranted.

Orientation Meetings

typically at the beginning of school year or sport season, the director typically explains the services of the staff, the training schedule and program, the progress card, facility rules, disciplinary actions, the award system, emergency procedures.