CSCCa Strength Focus have based their entire identity on their athletic performance, so grasping this larger concept of them as individuals can lead to great gains in not only trust and buy-in, but it helps you better understand what is on your life plate that you cannot physically see. TO SUM IT ALL UP: 1. Do not overcomplicate it. Start simple, know where you want to go and resist the urge to get caught up in trendy or flashy methods of training. 2. Do not program anything you have not done, cannot demonstrate or explain. Not all your athletes learn the same way - provide verbal, written, and visual cues. 3. Put the highest value on communication. 4. Come as a learner. 5. Most importantly-relationships must remain your top priority. In closure, though this article may be directed towards young, up-and-coming strength and conditioning coaches, it should still resonate with all coaches-we never stop learning. I would like to thank all my former interns for teaching me life lessons along the way and impacting my career in ways they may never know. n 16 | Training & Conditioning | June/July 2024http://waterboysports.com