Connecticut Strength and Conditioning

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MISSION STATEMENT
As the Strength and Conditioning staff at the University of Connecticut, we believe in the pursuit of excellence in our student/athletes as well as ourselves. It is our goal to provide each student/athlete with personalized instruction and a workout tailored to meet the demands of each sport and position in our state of the art exercise facility. Each and every student/athlete will be provided with the opportunity to enhance their sport performance through proper strength training and conditioning until they have fulfilled, if not exceeded, their athletic potential.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Our main responsibility as coaches is to provide a safe and positive environment in which our student/athletes will be given an opportunity to improve upon their athletic abilities. The three main ingredients necessary to fulfill this responsibility are; technical training, education and motivation. Time for one on one goals with each individual athlete is also provided.

EDUCATION
As coaches, the majority of our day is spent educating the student/athlete, whether it be proper lifting technique, exercise selection, progression, motivation, or proper nutrition. That is why it is necessary to be well educated in the field of Strength and Conditioning as well as staying abreast on new research and coaching techniques. Strength and Conditioning is a very exciting and dynamic field. New views on enhancing athletic performances are presented daily and we, as professionals are aware of these ideas. It is our responsibility to understand the physiology and biomechanics involved and be able to recognize the legitimacy of the idea and to differentiate between which student/athlete it may or may not provide an advantage for. That is why all members of our strength staff currently holds or is working towards a Masters Degree in kinesiology, biomechanics, physiology, or another related field and is currently certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). In addition, it is encouraged that each staff member be certified by the United States of America Weightlifting (USAW) to teach Olympic style lifts. Each staff member is required to continue their education by attending regional and national conferences, which provide them with an opportunity to learn and share new ideas, and to remain current with the latest research. Not only does our staff attend these conferences but they have lectured and presented both on the regional and national level. When all of the above factors are combined into one setting it provides the opportunity for the student/athlete to flourish. The University of Connecticut Strength and Conditioning program is one of the finest in the country and each student/athlete is guaranteed to be exposed to the most current philosophies and techniques during their stay here at UConn.

COMMUNICATION
A solid program is one which coaches, staff and student/athlete are all working together to improve performance and produce winners. In order to work as a team we must communicate as a team. The team is comprised of the student/athlete, strength staff, sports medicine staff, and coaching staff. Each part of the team is responsible for communicating amongst themselves and with the rest of their respectable staff members. As strength staff members, we communicate with each other on a daily basis to chart the progression of the student/athlete and to share ideas. By working together as a team we have been able to develop an excellent atmosphere to work and learn, for both the coach and the student/athlete. As strength staff members we communicate with the sports medicine staff and the sport coaching staff daily to chart the progression of injuries, mental attitudes and athletic performances. This prevents from having mixed signals sent to the student/athlete and keeps the student/athlete as well as the other professionals all moving in the same direction. We focus on the main goal, which is to provide the student/athlete with the optimal environment to flourish athletically. This system guarantees the student/athlete is the first priority and that all of their athletic needs are being met.

UCONN
At the University of Connecticut, we are dedicated to furthering the field of Strength and Conditioning, and it is with that dedication and commitment that is responsible for building the well-respected program that we have here today. It is that same dedication and commitment that we have for our student/athlete. Student/athletes will be provided with every opportunity to develop into the best athlete that he/she can be. This will be insured through constant supervision, periodic strength and conditioning testing, and workout progression. The workout will be adapted periodically to insure that it is specific to your seasonal needs and to the demands of each individual sport. Finally, the student/athlete will receive constant feedback and supervision while training. This will insure proper technique and to maximize training efforts. All that we ask of the student/athlete is to be on time, be enthusiastic, follow rules, and show respect towards yourself, team and the strength facility. The student/athlete has to be willing to work hard and prepare for his/her success.

THINGS TO CONSIDER
We realize that choosing a college is a difficult decision, and the more information that a prospective student/athlete can get, the easier the decision will be. We also realize that the University of Connecticut isn't the only college or university that the prospective student/athlete will be looking into. With that in mind, here are some of the questions that the prospective student/athlete should know the answers to before they choose a school with a strength and conditioning program:

1. Does the staff all have related science degrees, more specifically, master's degrees; and are they certified by the NSCA or the USAW to be a strength/conditioning coach?
2. Will I have individualized workouts based on my strength and conditioning levels?
3. Will I receive constant supervision from qualified staff members?
4. Will the weight room be reserved for my teammates and me or will it have open times for any student/athlete at any time?
5. What type of strength facility will I be training in?
6. Will the team have their own strength and conditioning coach or is the strength and conditioning program the sole responsibility of the sport coach?
7. Does the school place the student/athlete's experience as a top priority?

Our commitment to you,
Gerard Martin
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
486-0804

Andrea Hudy
Associate Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
486-2611