A Seminal Moment for the Strength & Conditioning Profession
NOW PUBLISHED | IUSCA POSITION STATEMENT
The International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) is delighted to announce the publication of a major new position statement in the International Journal of Strength and Conditioning (IJSC):
Explaining Professional Expertise in Strength and Conditioning: An IUSCA Position Statement on the International Qualification Framework (IQF) Level Descriptors
Co-authored by an international group of experienced practitioners, researchers and academics, this publication represents a significant milestone in the development of Strength and Conditioning as a globally recognised profession.
It establishes a rigorous philosophical and conceptual foundation for understanding professional expertise, with far-reaching implications for how S&C practitioners are educated, assessed, certified and recognised internationally.
Defining What Professional Expertise Really Means
For decades, the Strength and Conditioning profession has grappled with fundamental questions:
What distinguishes professional expertise from simply possessing scientific knowledge?
How should research evidence inform practice without reducing coaching to the application of prescribed methods?
What does professional competence look like across different levels of responsibility, autonomy and experience?
How can education and certification meaningfully assess the ability to make effective decisions in complex, real-world environments?
What foundations are necessary for the continued growth, credibility and professional recognition of S&C?
This position statement provides a coherent framework for addressing these questions.
Grounded in realist philosophy and critical rationalism, the publication examines the nature of knowledge, professional competence, practical expertise and the relationship between scientific understanding and professional judgement.
It advances an understanding of S&C practice in which competent professionals must be able to identify and define problems, critically evaluate evidence, make justified decisions and implement effective interventions across diverse populations and contexts.
A Foundation for the Future of the Profession
The implications extend across the entire S&C landscape.
🎓 Education: Developing practitioners who can think critically, solve problems and exercise independent professional judgement.
📋 Certification and Assessment: Moving towards meaningful evaluation of applied competence, autonomy and decision-making.
🔬 Research: Strengthening the relationship between scientific inquiry, knowledge development and applied professional practice.
🏅 Professional Standards: Establishing clearer expectations for competence and expertise across progressive levels of professional responsibility.
🌍 International Recognition: Providing a coherent foundation for the continued development of the International Qualification Framework (IQF) and its application across different educational and professional contexts.
Together, these principles provide an ambitious foundation for advancing the credibility, consistency and long-term development of the profession internationally.
A Message from the IUSCA Executive Director
"The Strength and Conditioning profession has long faced something of an identity crisis. We have struggled to clearly articulate what professional competence truly means, how scientific research relates to applied practice, and ultimately how to communicate the full complexity, responsibility and impact of our profession.
This seminal publication, developed collaboratively by experienced practitioners, researchers and academics, represents a major step forward.
By establishing a robust philosophical foundation for understanding professional expertise, we can begin to define more accurately what it means to be competent, how that competence should be developed and assessed, and what standards should underpin our profession.
I believe this work has the potential to fundamentally influence the future direction, credibility and impact of Strength and Conditioning internationally."
Andrew Langford
Executive Director
International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA)
Read the Full Position Statement
Published in the International Journal of Strength and Conditioning, the position statement is available through the journal's Diamond Open Access model, ensuring free access for practitioners, researchers, educators, students and professional organisations worldwide.
We encourage everyone involved in Strength and Conditioning education, research, coaching, certification and professional development to engage with this publication and consider its implications for the future of the profession.
The next stage of professional development in S&C requires a clearer understanding of what professional expertise actually entails. This publication provides an important foundation for that work.
International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA)
Advancing Strength and Conditioning through education, research, professional standards and international recognition.
