IUSCA Celebrates Success of 2026 USA Volunteer Placement Programme
Students from across the IUSCA university network gain invaluable practical experience within NCAA Division I strength and conditioning programmes across the United States.
The International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) is proud to celebrate the success of its 2026 USA Volunteer Placement Programme, which has provided university students and emerging strength and conditioning practitioners with opportunities to develop their skills within some of the leading collegiate sports performance environments in the United States.
Through an expanding network of NCAA Division I institutions, the programme enables students to gain practical coaching experience, learn alongside experienced strength and conditioning professionals and contribute to the preparation and development of collegiate athletes.
The 2026 programme reflects IUSCA's ongoing commitment to developing competent, confident and professionally prepared strength and conditioning practitioners through the integration of academic education, applied experience and international collaboration.
Bridging Academic Education and Applied Practice
A central principle of the International Qualification Framework (IQF) is that professional competence develops through the integration of knowledge, practical skills, autonomy, responsibility and professional judgement.
While academic qualifications provide an essential scientific and theoretical foundation, the ability to apply that knowledge effectively in complex and dynamic sporting environments is fundamental to professional development.
The IUSCA USA Volunteer Placement Programme supports this progression by giving students opportunities to experience the practical demands of working within established collegiate strength and conditioning departments.
Working alongside experienced practitioners, participants encounter the realities of coaching, athlete communication, programme implementation, performance monitoring and multidisciplinary collaboration.
These experiences provide opportunities to develop the applied competence and professional judgement described within the IQF Level Descriptors, complementing the academic and practical learning undertaken through IUSCA Accredited Degree programmes.
The programme also recognises the importance of reflective practice, exposing students to different coaching philosophies, methods and professional environments that challenge them to evaluate and develop their own approaches.
Developing the Next Generation of Practitioners
Feedback from the 2026 participants highlights the substantial professional and personal development that can result from immersive experiences within NCAA Division I environments.
Fred Beardsley, Nottingham Trent University to Quinnipiac University, gained experience supporting more than 70 student-athletes across basketball and ice hockey, including involvement in strength and conditioning delivery, performance testing, velocity-based training and return-to-play support.
Reflecting on his placement, Fred explained:
"More importantly, this experience has challenged me to become a better coach, from communicating effectively with different athletes to making decisions in a fast-paced performance environment."
The development of coaching confidence, communication and professional responsibility was also central to the experience of Ben Jones, Cardiff Metropolitan University to UCLA.
"One of my biggest areas of growth was finding my coaching voice. I became more comfortable leading a room, communicating clearly and building relationships with athletes."
Ben also highlighted the importance of mentorship, feedback and reflection in his development, alongside opportunities to gain insight into other professional sporting environments, including LA Galaxy and LAFC.
For Patrick Partis, Loughborough University to Northwestern University, the programme provided opportunities to apply academic knowledge through practical and reflective activities.
One particular highlight involved developing and presenting a 30-minute programme defence for a hypothetical men's soccer off-season training group to coaches and fellow interns. This required Patrick to explain and justify his programming decisions while receiving professional feedback.
Such experiences demonstrate the importance of developing the ability to articulate, evaluate and defend coaching decisions, alongside the practical skills required for effective programme delivery.
Nick Court, Loughborough University to the University of Washington, gained experience within the Washington Husky Football Strength and Conditioning Department, working in an NCAA Division I American football environment.
Reflecting on the challenges and opportunities presented by the experience, Nick explained:
"The opportunity to develop my knowledge & skills in an environment well outside my comfort zone has been one of the biggest challenges of my coaching career so far, but equally one the most rewarding, broadening my experiential skill set and giving fresh perspectives in Strength & Conditioning."
Nick's experience highlights the value of encountering new performance environments, professional expectations and coaching practices in supporting continued development.
Other participants similarly reflected on the broader impact of their placements.
Olivia Patterson, University of Lincoln to Quinnipiac University, commented:
"This experience has taught me so much, both personally and professionally. It has deepened my understanding of strength and conditioning as a holistic approach and strengthened my practical skills as a coach."
For Chloe Foster, Liverpool John Moores University to the University of Portland, the experience also influenced her future academic ambitions.
"This experience also pushed me to start my Masters degree once I landed back in the UK!"
Together, these reflections highlight the value of combining formal education with opportunities for experiential learning, professional mentorship and increasing coaching responsibility.
A Growing Network of NCAA Division I Placement Hosts
The success of the programme is made possible through IUSCA's relationships with university athletics departments and sports performance professionals throughout the United States.
The 2026 network of placement hosts includes:
University of Colorado
Quinnipiac University
Northwestern University
University of Pittsburgh
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
University of Portland
Arizona State University
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
University of Massachusetts
University of Southern California (USC)
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF)
University of Washington
These institutions provide students with exposure to a wide variety of collegiate sports, coaching approaches, performance facilities and organisational structures.
IUSCA is particularly grateful to the strength and conditioning coaches, performance directors and athletics departments who invest their time in mentoring and supporting visiting practitioners.
Their willingness to share knowledge and provide meaningful developmental opportunities is fundamental to the programme's continued success.
Strengthening International University Collaboration
The USA Volunteer Placement Programme also demonstrates the wider value of international collaboration in strength and conditioning education and professional development.
Through its global Degree Accreditation Programme, IUSCA works with universities to support the development of academically qualified and practically competent graduates, with educational outcomes aligned to the IQF.
Students from institutions including IUSCA Accredited Degree partners Leeds Beckett University, the University of Lincoln, St Mary's University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, the University of Portsmouth, the University of Edinburgh and Liverpool John Moores University have benefited from international placement opportunities.
These collaborations help extend the educational experience beyond the university classroom and provide students with access to professional environments, mentoring relationships and applied learning opportunities that can support their progression towards higher levels of professional competence.
Importantly, the programme also provides value to participating institutions in the United States.
Visiting students bring academic knowledge, enthusiasm and diverse perspectives to their host departments, while contributing to the day-to-day activities of collegiate sports performance programmes under the guidance of experienced staff.
This reciprocal approach reflects IUSCA's broader mission to strengthen the profession through collaboration between educational institutions, professional practitioners and sporting organisations internationally.
Supporting Progression Through the International Qualification Framework
The development of competent practitioners is at the centre of the IUSCA International Qualification Framework.
The IQF recognises that professional progression involves the increasing integration of scientific knowledge, practical competence, autonomy and responsibility, with practitioners expected to demonstrate increasingly sophisticated professional judgement as they advance.
Experiences such as those provided through the USA Volunteer Placement Programme can make an important contribution to this development.
By working in unfamiliar environments, engaging with experienced professionals and taking on meaningful practical responsibilities, students gain opportunities to test their existing knowledge, develop new capabilities and critically reflect on their practice.
These experiences complement the formal education, assessment and professional evidence required for progression through the IQF and associated IUSCA certifications.
They also reinforce IUSCA's commitment to ensuring that professional recognition reflects demonstrated competence and the capacity to apply knowledge effectively in real-world environments.
Looking Ahead
Following another successful year, IUSCA remains committed to developing the USA Volunteer Placement Programme and strengthening relationships with existing and prospective host institutions.
The IUSCA would like to extend its sincere thanks to the NCAA Division I coaches and athletics departments who supported the 2026 programme, the university partners who encourage and facilitate student participation, and the students who represented their institutions and IUSCA throughout their placements.
The achievements and experiences of the 2026 participants demonstrate the value of investing in meaningful practical development opportunities for the next generation of strength and conditioning professionals.
IUSCA looks forward to continuing this work and supporting further opportunities for international learning, collaboration and professional development.
Find out more about the IUSCA USA Volunteer Placement Programme and future opportunities:
