Colorado Springs, CO – The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is proud to announce that Coach Joel Raether has been selected as the NSCA’s Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year for 2020. Coach Raether becomes the sixth recipient of the award, which has been handed out since 2014. Award winners are selected by a volunteer committee, the NSCA’s Coaching Task Force, who determine the winner based on their contributions to the NSCA, their community, and the coaching profession.

This article focuses on providing first-hand insight into the alternative licensure program (ALP) route from a current coach in the field.

Mandy Nice explains the benefits and need of expanding health and fitness programs into military and law enforcement agencies, and offers strategies for the common obstacles preventing implementation of these programs.

The NSCA Jerry Martin Strength and Conditioning Scholarship Fund provides support to students planning to pursue careers as strength coaches. Named in honor of Coach Jerry Martin, longtime strength coach and recipient of the NSCA’s 2015 Boyd Epley Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Jerry Martin Strength and Conditioning Scholarship Fund was created in order to support NSCA members who are in college and intend to pursue a career in strength and conditioning coaching.

From the 2020 NSCA Delaware State Clinic, Gordon Jeter and Terique Boyd discuss socioeconomics and how it ties into social issues within the field of strength and conditioning. They also provide actionable pathways for coaches to address these issues and expand the scope of available resources to help provide better educational and occupational opportunities.

Strength and conditioning coaches with knowledge of the exercise principles for youth and the specific demands of basketball can design effective integrative neuromuscular training (INT) programs based on the individual needs of youth athletes.

NSCA National Awards will be handed out at the 41st Annual NSCA National Conference on Friday, July 13 in Indianapolis, IN.