A strength and conditioning coach (also known as an S&C coach) is a physical performance professional who uses exercise prescription to improve the performance of competitive athletes or athletic teams.[1] This is achieved through the combination of strength training, aerobic conditioning, and other methods.

Unlike an athletic trainer, a strength and conditioning coach is focused primarily on sport performance. The coach helps athletes with injury prevention, through strengthening and coaching of movement mechanics within a sport.[2] While a personal trainer may work with individuals of all fitness levels and focus on health or fitness, strength and conditioning coaches focus on competitive athletes and improving performance in a specific sport. The qualifications for the three professions are not interchangeable, and both strength and conditioning coaches and athletic trainers have more stringent educational requirements than personal trainers.

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The implementation of effective strength and conditioning programmes has led to an increase in speed and strength.[10][11][12] Research has demonstrated that not only does training improve performance but incorrect training (distance running, a slow-twitch muscle fiber activity, in football athletes with fast-twitch characteristics) can cause decrements to performance. Using techniques such as velocity based training and plyometrics in some high-power athletes and sports-specific movements in others, strength coaches may improve physical function and athletic performance while potentially lowering the risk of some sporting injuries.[13][14]

 The general description and duty of a strength and conditioning coach is to develop an exercise prescription plan that modulates aerobic, resistance, and/or flexibility training to suit the metabolic and physical demands of the sport in question.[1] With aerobic exercise prescription, strength and conditioning coaches determine the type, duration, and frequency of each exercise. For resistance exercise prescription, the type of exercise, total session volume, rest period, frequency, intensity and velocity are determined.[4] They may also be involved in prescription of stretching routines or other approaches.