Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statements provide advice to interpret the scope and context of this unit of competence, allowing for differences between enterprises and workplaces. The Range Statements relate to the unit as a whole and helps facilitate holistic assessment. In addition, the following variables may be present for this particular unit of competency:

Adaptations to include athletes with a disability

athletes with sensory, physical, intellectual impairment

sight loss

hearing loss

physical disability, eg, amputees, wheel chair athletes

Adaptations to include pre-adolescent athletes, women and mature aged athletes

refers to recommended programming guidelines in relation to appropriate sets and repetitions

preferences for the use body weight support and resistance exercises

benefits of appropriate training

should follow the best practice principles of strength and conditioning

Analyse

physical

psychological

tactical

technical

Athlete/s

are usually committed and self-motivated to improve their performance

can be talented with various levels of motivation and commitment

may be beginner through to high performance level competitors

are usually over the age of 10 years with some sport specific exceptions such as gymnastics or swimming where they may be younger, and/or

can be

female or male

with or without a disability or special needs

with or without social disadvantage

and/or from minority ethnic and cultural groups

Assessment measures

field assessments of fitness components

interviews with athletes

observation of performance

performance history

Best practice principles of strength and conditioning

accepted preventative practice adopted throughout the strength and conditioning industry to minimise safety hazards or risks

the sport's coaches or instructors code of conduct policy developed by the peak bodies responsible for the development of teaching and coaching

Australian Sports Commission's Harassment-free Sport policy

Australian Sports Commission's drugs in sport policy

National Activity Organisation's regulations and guidelines

relevant National, State/Territory or Local government regulations and guidelines

employer organisations policies and procedures

the culture of the sport/activity

accepted preventative practices adopted by self or peers to minimise safety hazards and risks in the same or similar situations

current and past good practice demonstrated by self or peers in the same or similar situation

Components

physical

psychological

tactical

technical and leadership

Conflict resolution

discussion

mediation

negotiation

Core lifts and exercises that form the basis of the basic skills of strength and conditioning

abdomen

bent-knee sit-up

crunch

roll outs

reverse crunch

side bends

prone & hold

back

bent over row

lat pull down

seated row

pull ups

good mornings

back extensions

deadlifts

Romanian deadlifts

biceps

biceps curl

hammer curl

preacher curl

calves and ankles

standing calf (heel) raise

seated calf (heel) raise

anterior lower leg

dorsi flexor

peroneal flexions & wobble board

chest

flat bench press (and dumbbell version)

incline dumbbell press (and barbell version)

flat dumbbell fly (and incline version)

vertical chest press

dips

push ups

forearms

wrist curl

wrist extension

hip/thigh

hip sled

back squat

front squat

forward lunge

step-up

deadlift

stiff leg deadlift

leg (knee) extension

leg (knee) curl

multi hip

kneeling fall forward

medicine ball hamstring throws

shoulders

seated shoulder press

machine shoulder press

upright row

flyes, front raises, bent over flyes

shrugs

rotator cuff internal external rotation

triceps

lying triceps extension

triceps pushdown

bent over tricep extension

close grip bench press

power exercises

push press (and push jerk)

clean & power clean

snatch and power snatch

snatch and clean pulls

medicine ball throws

proprioception and neuromuscular coordination exercises

overhead squat

drop snatch

swiss ball

balance board

Development program

support provided

options discussed

goals identified

achievement strategy identified

Empowers

awareness of the underlying principles and reasons for the program

opportunities for self directed learning

training diary

input into the program

athletes needs and commitments outside the activity are recognised

Exercise selection and exercise order

choosing exercises for a resistance training program based on

types of resistance training exercises

movement analysis of sport

athletes exercise technique experience

available equipment and training time

exercise order refers to a sequence of resistance exercise performed during one training session

power, the other core then assisted exercises

pre-exhaustion method

upper and lower body exercise (alternated)

supersets and compound sets

Fixed points

structure and subdivision of the high performance

availability of facilities

rules of the activity

rules of the competition/performance

individual and/or team involvement

intended peaks

selection dates and criteria

athletes lifestyle and availability of support personnel

Flexibility training

in relation to flexibility training may include

static stretching

ballistic stretching

dynamic stretching

proprioneuromuscular facilitation (PNF)

range of motion

stretching techniques include exercises for

neck

shoulders and chest

posterior of upper arm

upper back

lower back

hips

torso

anterior of thigh and hip flexor

posterior of thigh

groin

calf

Healing processes

first aid treatment for injuries common to the activity

recovery and rehabilitation period and activities

return to participation

Health and training status

athletes current condition of level of preparedness to begin a new or revised program

Job descriptions

total time

timing of position

skills

tasks and communication

Objectives

athlete enjoyment

competition/performance

physical

psychological

tactical

technical and leadership skills

selection

principles of training

specificity

progressive training

rest and recovery

reversibility

frequency

intensity

duration

periodisation

tapering

peaking

individuality and maintenance

Other coaches and specialists

health professionals

physiologists

biomechanics

Periodisation

variations in training specificity, intensity and volume organised into planned periods or cycles within an overall program including

macrocycles

mesocycles

microcycles

Matveyev model includes

hypertrophy/endurance phase

basic strength phase

strength/power phase

Phase

macro-cycles

micro-cycles

meso-cycles

pre-season

in-season

post-season

Plyometric

plyometric or elastic energy training refers to

quick powerful movement using a prestretch or countermovement, that involves the stretch-shortening cycle

plyometric or elastic energy drills for

lower body

jumps in place

standing jumps

multiple hops and jumps

bounds

box drills depth jumps

upper body

throws

push ups

trunk

Potential barriers

background noise

time availability

stress level of coach/instructor and the swimmers

information overload

Potential conflicts

coaching/instructing styles

training program

competition/performance program

discipline procedures

techniques

tactics and time commitments

Profiles

physical

psychological

tactical

technical

leadership skills

Psychological responses

denial

despair

anger and coping strategies

Resources

human resources, eg, a ratio of coaches to athletes that allows for maximum participation in a safe environment

equipment, eg, a ratio of equipment to athletes that allows for maximum participation in a safe environment

access to first aid facilities/equipment

appropriate facilities to conduct training/competition in a safe environment

Requirements

objectives

structure

specific activities

range of activities

time

equipment and safety

Recovery methods

drills and activities that contribute to recovery of muscles after physical activity

Skills of strength and conditioning

resistance training for strength, power and muscle endurance

speed and agility

aerobic endurance

flexibility

elastic energy training

stability training

Strategy

weighting given to different sources of information

weighting given to different information

Strategies

sign language

time outs

athlete/s in charge in participation environment

Strengths and weaknesses

physical

psychological

tactical

technical and leadership skills

Support needs

training facilities

equipment

finance

transport

coach/instructor

management and/or specialist support

Tactics

written competition/performance strategy

strategy communicated to athletes

Testing protocols

past performance

discussion with trainees

physical ability tests

trial

performances in familiar environment

performances in unfamiliar environment

where relevant to the activity

positions trialled in

subjective assessments

Training background and exercise history

training that occurred before athlete began new or revised program including consideration to

type of training program, eg, strength, sprint, plyometric

length of recent regular participation in previous training programs

level of intensity involved in previous training programs

degree of exercise technique experienced

Training load, repetition and volume

load refers to

the amount of weight assigned to an exercise set

commonly described as a percentage of one-repetition maximum (1RM) or the most weight lifted for a specified number of repetitions

repetition

the number of times a weight is lifted

the number of times an exercise can be performed inversely related to the lead lifted

volume or volume load

the total amount of work completed in a session or unit of time eg total weight lifted, distance completed

Training program

a forward training plan which covers a four year Olympic cycle

Work duration, rest periods and frequency

work duration refers to

the time period to complete training unit or session, eg, 2-5 minutes for long interval training

rest period refers to

the time duration of recovery period between work durations, eg, 2-6 minutes

may be considered in work to rest ratios

frequency refers to

the number of completed work sessions in a training cycle

Work environment, organisation's Occupational Health and Safety requirements, safe and appropriate dress, safety and hygiene rules and requirements venue and equipment

appropriate apparel and personal equipment

personal hygiene requirements

strength and conditioning training equipment

technical equipment

stopwatch

whiteboard

clipboards

safety equipment as listed in state Occupational Health and Safety requirements for sports training facilities

other recommended safety guidelines are

training aids should be inspected before use

sun safety guidelines should be followed

hydration guidelines should be followed

competition/training facilities should be inspected before use

access to first aid facilities/equipment

The Evidence Guide identifies the critical aspects, knowledge and skills to be demonstrated to confirm competence for this unit. This is an integral part of the assessment of competence and should be read in conjunction with the Range Statements.
Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm sufficient knowledge of planning and preparing a strength and conditioning program for a competitive athlete
Assessment of performance should be over a period of time covering all categories of coaching from the Range Statements
Assessment must confirm the ability to apply knowledge and appropriate techniques to
develop a strength and conditioning training program for a competitive athlete that improves the performance of the athlete while maintaining their well-being
plan for competitive/performance situations within the strength and conditioning program
apply exercise prescription to training program
plan rehabilitation and reconditioning programs

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit must be assessed after attainment of competency in the following unit(s)
Nil
This unit must be assessed in conjunction with the following unit(s)
SRSSTC001A Teach or develop basic skills of strength and conditioning
SRSSTC003A Operate in accord with accepted strength and conditioning industry health and safety practices
SRSSTC004A Operate and maintain strength and conditioning facilities and equipment
For the purpose of integrated assessment, this unit may be assessed in conjunction with the following unit(s)
HLTCOM6A Make referrals to other health care professionals when appropriate
HLTCOM8A Use practice specific/medical terminology in order to communicate with client/patients, fellow workers and health care professionals

Required knowledge and skills
Required knowledge
Knowledge of human muscular physiology
Knowledge of human neuromuscular anatomy and adaptation to conditioning
Knowledge of biomechanics of sport technique
Knowledge of human bioenergetics and metabolism
Knowledge of bone, muscle and connective tissue adaptation to physical activity
Knowledge of adverse neural tension in athletes
Knowledge of stability exercises
Knowledge of anatomical, physiological and biomechanical differences of athletes including age and sex
Knowledge of adaptation to aerobic endurance training
Knowledge of resistance training and spotting techniques
Knowledge of speed, agility and plyometric training
Knowledge of flexibility training and types of stretching
Knowledge of aerobic endurance exercise training
Knowledge of periodisation and training variation
Knowledge of exercise prescription principles
Knowledge of overuse injury and other conditions that may affect planning for strength and conditioning program
Knowledge of affect of pain on performance
Knowledge of rehabilitation programs
Knowledge of drills, activities and games to teach the basic skills of strength and conditioning
Knowledge of relevant equipment and safety requirements (including Occupational Health and safety and legislative requirements)
Required skills
Skills used to teach the advanced skills of strength and conditioning, eg, movement, voice, use of technical aids
Ability to provide explanations and demonstrations, eg, self, other athletes as models, videos
Monitoring/observation skills in order to make necessary adjustments to training programs to improve skills
Feedback and questioning skills in order to communicate effectively with participants
Ability to conduct drills, activities and/or games in accordance with the accepted best practice in coaching strength and conditioning
Ability to use modern technology to assess athletes and apply to planning programs
Ability to measure postural stability to plan for strength and conditioning
Ability to provide social support to an athlete with overall pain

Resource implications
Physical resources - assessment of this competency requires access
a group of athletes participating in a strength and conditioning activity
a gymnasium or strength training facility and other equipment
rules, policies and regulations of relevant peak bodies and/or employer organisations
Human resources - assessment of this competency will require
personnel with competence in coaching strength and conditioning
personnel to be current in their knowledge and understanding of the industry through provision of evidence of professional activity in relevant area
personnel to have attained the National Competency Standards for Assessment BSZ401A, BSZ402A and BSZ403A

Consistency in performance
Due to issues such as coaching effectiveness this unit of competency must be assessed over a period of time in order to ensure consistency in performance over the Range Statements and contexts applicable to prescribing exercise for athletes in strength and conditioning

Context for assessment
This unit of competency must be assessed in the context of a sporting activity with a range of real clients. For valid and reliable assessment the activity should be conducted in a sports training facility with competitive athletes participating in strength and conditioning activities. The environment should be safe, with a noise to a level experienced with an activity in full operation and support services provided for optimum performance
This unit of competency should be assessed through the observation of processes and procedures, oral and/or written questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills and consideration of required attitudes
Where performance is not directly observed and/or is required to be demonstrated over a 'period of time' and/or in a 'number of locations', any evidence should be authenticated by colleagues, supervisors, clients or other appropriate persons

Communicating ideas and information
Identify barriers to communication (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Establish checklist of key selection policies, procedures and criteria (2)

Planning and organising activities
Plan requirements for each trainingcomponent and program session (2)

Working with others and in teams
Liaise with other coaches and instructors (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Establish selection procedures (1)

Solving problems
Identify and resolve potential conflicts (2)

Using technology
Use appropriate technical and testing equipment (1)