May 2021 - 29

Strength & Conditioning
Overall, we have a total of at least 3 coaches
running screens at the same time, and we have
three test kits to support it. We have a studentathlete
assigned to each group to record all
the results as they are happening so that the
coaches do not have to slow down and break
from what they are doing. Once all the testing is
completed, and the results are analyzed, groups
are established around mobility restrictions.
Individuals are assigned to a particular group
(Shoulder Mobility, ASLR, etc.) based on their
most pressing need that was revealed by the
screen. They are then given a routine for their
asymmetry and are responsible for carrying out
the corrective exercise before each workout.
Within the high school setting, it is likely that
you will have hundreds of athletes to screen
and fewer qualified individuals to help you than
your college or pro counterparts. But that does
not make implementing the FMS impossible.
Here are some possible ideas to help
accomplish this effectively despite the potential
limitations of a high school environment:
GOLD
The ideal standard, in this case, would be to
have at least two other members of your staff be
FMS level 1 & 2 certified, or at least as certified/
qualified as high as you are. In that scenario, it
will be very easy to implement the screening and
corrective exercise protocols, and you can have
absolute confidence that they can carry out any
aspect of the screening. This is definitely the
most preferable option, as you have all the help
you need in-house and require no extra effort on
your part to educate your staff.
TRAIN YOUR STAFF
In this case, you have a staff of coaches or
interns that work for you that may not have taken
the course. As the most FMS-qualified member
of the staff, it is your responsibility to teach the
screening protocols to your assistants. During a
staff meeting, present it to our team, and spend
several follow-up sessions practicing. You can
also give them access to digital training materials
so they can work on it on their own time. After
some exposure and practice, I suggest bringing
in random volunteers from the school community
to be screened, so they have a chance to improve
their skills. When the results become accurate,
you know they are ready. Since the FMS is
designed to be taken by anyone and needs no
prior expertise to learn, we feel good about this
option. At the current time, this has been our
most common model and it has proven both
reliable and effective.
GET YOUR ATHLETIC TRAINERS INVOLVED
If you have no assistants or interns, another
option is to approach your athletic trainers for
help. In most cases, these individuals are familiar
with the FMS, and some have even taken the
courses themselves. Even if they have not, they
are excellent candidates to assist you, since they
evaluate movement all the time and already have
training-conditioning.com | 29
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May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2021
