While I was at the USATF Level 2 Coaches Education School 2 weeks ago in Houston, I had several conversations with students about what certifications were important and beneficial. Some heated discussion came up regarding the National Strength & Conditioning Association’s CSCS certification and whether it was beneficial and worthwhile. A couple of my fellow instructors were pretty passionately opposed to the entire organization because of the overly commercialized entity that it had become and the lower standards and different market (PTs and ATCs) that it had come to cater to. The general consensus was that the Journals have some gems but are generally an extension of the old boys network that is the CSCS; and that the organization and its certifications as a whole are a necessary evil that you have to have to get a job in the strength and conditioning field. The only reason I bring this up is because a fairly prominent strength coach (Mark Rippetoe) who I respect has just submitted an open letter rescinding his CSCS for the very negatives that I mention above. Will this start an exodus? Who knows but perhaps it’s enough for the NSCA to look in the mirror and reflect on what market they are really trying to represent and whether they want to choose integrity over money.
Discuss entry
