ABSTRACT
A key focus of this chapter is how strength and conditioning coaches are socialised into their profession. The suggestion is that this process can be more effective if novices are able to identify key professional competences and self-audit against those competences. This chapter reviews the three postulated phases of socialisation as being acculturated, professional socialisation and organisational socialisation. Mismatches between organisational and acculturated perceptions can result in a ‘washout effect’ and subsequent disillusionment with the profession. Within this chapter the authors encourage strength and conditioning coaches to embrace the breadth of the scope of practice, resist fragmenting and routinising their professional roles, and seek ways to flourish within a professional culture of excellence. The authors encourage strength and conditioning coaches to challenge the dominance of typical business models and focus on developing personal and professional excellence.
