2026 NHSSCA National Conference — 10-Year Anniversary
A decade of educating, equipping, and empowering coaches to raise the standard in the weight room
The Reality Inside Most High School Weight Rooms
Every day, athletes train in high school weight rooms overseen by coaches who were never formally trained to run them.
Not because they don’t care.
Not because they’re negligent.
But because responsibility was assigned without a system.
Across the country, high schools expect safety, progress, and results—without structured education for the people in charge.
That gap doesn’t just create uncertainty for coaches. It creates risk for athletes.
For ten years, the NHSSCA has existed to solve this exact problem.
Celebrating 10 Years Of The NHSSCA
The NHSSCA was not created only for credentialed professionals. It was created for any coach entrusted with training high school athletes.
If you oversee a high school weight room...
If athlete safety, progression, and development fall under your care...
If you want clarity instead of guesswork...
You belong here.
For ten years, the NHSSCA has existed to educate, equip, and empower coaches—bringing confidence and fluency to the weight room, regardless of background or title.
This National Conference isn’t about gatekeeping. It’s about raising the standard for everyone.
NatCon + PreCon
Two distinct experiences. One shared mission: preparing coaches to lead safe, effective training in real high school environments.
NatCon
The full NHSSCA National Conference experience—designed for coaches responsible for high school athletes, weight rooms, programs, and people.
- Multiple sessions and learning formats
- Keynotes, awards, and community events
- Education built for real school constraints
PreCon
A focused, limited-capacity workshop experience that goes deeper on a single theme before NatCon begins.
- Longer teaching blocks
- Higher interaction and depth
- Designed for implementation-focused coaches
Awards & 10-Year Anniversary Celebration Dinner
The NHSSCA Awards Dinner is more than a meal—it’s a celebration of service, leadership, and commitment to athlete development.
As part of our 10-Year Anniversary, we’ll recognize coaches who embody the mission to Educate, Equip, and Empower—and who have helped raise the standard for training in schools across the country.
One night. One room. A decade worth celebrating.
More Than Units. A Full Certification.
In addition to earning CEUs and PLUs through NatCon and PreCon, attendees will have the opportunity to attend and complete a USA Weightlifting Level I Course Certification before PreCon and the conference.
Why This Is Unprecedented
National conferences typically allow coaches to earn continuing education units. This conference goes further—offering a full course certification alongside professional development.
Hosted by Proven Leaders
The USAW Level I Course will be hosted by three NHSSCA Hall of Famers and Master-Level USAW Coaches—bringing decades of coaching, teaching, and implementation experience into one setting.
Why This Year Matters
This isn’t just another clinic. It’s a milestone—and a line in the sand for the future of high school-based strength training.
More Than Units. A Full Certification.
In addition to earning CEUs and PLUs through NatCon and PreCon, attendees will have the opportunity to attend and complete a USA Weightlifting Level I Course Certification before PreCon and the conference.
Why This Is Unprecedented
National conferences typically allow coaches to earn continuing education units. This conference goes further—offering a full course certification alongside professional development.
Hosted by Proven Leaders
The USAW Level I Course will be hosted by NHSSCA Hall of Fame Inductee Coach Leo Totten and Master-Level USAW Coaches—bringing decades of coaching, teaching, and implementation experience into one setting.
NHSSCA National Conference
NatCon + PreCon Schedule (Skeleton)
Below is a preview of the conference flow and format. As speakers and sessions are confirmed, we’ll update each block and
drip announcements through the end of February to build momentum.
Learn from coaches and educators who understand the realities of school weight rooms—and are committed to raising the standard for everyone responsible for athlete training.
DAY 1: Coach PreCon
The PreCon is a focused, intensive track that runs in a structured “Session 1 and Session 2” format.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00–8:00 AM | PreCon Registration Check-in, badge pickup, coffee |
Lobby / Registration |
| 8:00–8:50 AM | Session 1: [TITLE TBD] Overview: 1–2 sentences |
[Room TBD] |
| 9:00–9:50 AM | Session 2: [TITLE TBD] Overview: 1–2 sentences |
[Room TBD] |
| 10:00–10:50 AM | Session 3: [TITLE TBD] Overview: 1–2 sentences |
[Room TBD] |
| 11:00–11:50 AM | Session 4: [TITLE TBD] Overview: 1–2 sentences |
[Room TBD] |
| 12:00–12:45 PM | Lunch Lunch provided |
[Dining Area] |
| 1:00–2:30 PM | Applied Workshop: [TITLE TBD] Hands-on / implementation emphasis |
[Training Space] |
| 2:45–3:15 PM | PreCon Close + Transition Move into NatCon opening events |
[TBD] |
DAY 1: NatCon Opening Events
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00–4:00 PM | NatCon Registration Opens Badge pickup + arrival |
Lobby |
| 4:15–5:15 PM | Opening Dinner Dinner provided |
Cafeteria / Hall |
| 5:30–6:30 PM | Keynote Address Speaker TBD |
Main Space |
| 6:40–7:45 PM | Awards + Recognition Program awards + honors |
Main Space |
DAY 2: NatCon Main Day
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00–8:00 AM | Breakfast + Roundtables Breakfast provided |
[Dining Area] |
| 8:15–9:05 AM | Lecture Series Speaker + topic TBD |
Main Space |
| 9:15–10:05 AM | Hands-On: Session I Choose one rotation |
Training Spaces |
| 10:20–11:10 AM | Lecture Series Speaker + topic TBD |
Main Space |
| 11:20–12:00 PM | Mini Breakouts Engage, reflect, connect |
Breakout Rooms |
| 12:00–1:00 PM | Lunch + Partner Time Lunch provided + booths open |
[Dining / Expo] |
| 1:15–2:05 PM | Lecture Series Speaker + topic TBD |
Main Space |
| 2:15–3:05 PM | Hands-On: Session II Rotations repeat later |
Training Spaces |
| 3:20–4:10 PM | Lecture / Panel Speaker + topic TBD |
Main Space |
Bonus Option: Certification Add-On (Skeleton)
Add your USAW Level I Course Certification block here (right after NatCon + PreCon explanation). This becomes a “why this is unprecedented” section and can be displayed as a clean option add-on with capacity limits.
Replace this paragraph with your final USAW copy once the hosting coaches and course logistics are confirmed.
Attend Once. Learn Twice.
Professional Members who attend receive full access to session recordings for every NatCon and PreCon session they attend—including limited-capacity hands-on experiences.
What’s Included
- Lecture session recordings
- Hands-on sessions (even limited-capacity)
- PreCon deep-dive sessions
- Access after the conference concludes
Why It Matters
Conferences move fast. Sessions overlap. Capacity is limited.
Replay access ensures you don’t lose value due to scheduling conflicts—and allows you to revisit key concepts when implementation matters most.
NatCon Hotel
One hotel. One lobby. One shared experience. Stay where the action is and be part of the conference after the conference—where meaningful connections are made long after the final session ends.
- NHSSCA National Convention Attendees
- Start Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
- End Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026
- Hotel offering your special group rate:
- Hotel: Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel
- Rate: $142.00 USD per night
- Last Day to Book: Wednesday, June 03, 2026
Who's coming?
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This Conference Is for Coaches Who Carry Responsibility
You don’t need to already “know it all” to attend. You need one thing: ownership of the role you’ve been given in the weight room.
At the NHSSCA National Conference, you will:
- Gain clarity in the weight room
- Learn what actually matters for athlete safety and development
- Leave with tools you can apply immediately
- Walk away more confident than you arrived