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 NHSSCA Hall of Fame Inductee Coach Leo Totten 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.
NHSSCA National Conference
NatCon + PreCon Schedule
Below is the current NatCon 2026 conference flow based on the working event schedule. From USAW and PreCon through hands-on sessions,
breakouts, keynote, awards, and Saturday’s full conference lineup, this gives coaches a clean view of how the weekend unfolds.
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.
Arrival + Kickoff
NatCon week begins with the USAW certification add-on, followed by Thursday registration and the #Family Social.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 17–18 | USAW Certification USAW course held ahead of NatCon weekend |
USAW Course Space |
| Thu, June 18 2:00–5:00 PM |
Registration Check-in and arrival |
Registration Area |
| Thu, June 18 5:00–9:00 PM |
#Family Social Informal gathering to kick off the weekend |
Matty’s Bar & Grille |
Friday: PreCon + NatCon Opening
Friday combines the Jimmy Radcliffe PreCon with NatCon registration, opening welcome, featured lecture, regional breakouts, hands-on training, keynote, and awards.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00–8:00 AM | FCA Breakfast Start the day with breakfast and fellowship |
Breakfast Area |
| 8:00 AM |
PreCon — Jimmy Radcliffe: Preparational [Rehearsal Protocols] Dynamic Warm-Up Mobility Work Core Training “Pillars of Strength” |
PreCon Training Space |
| 9:45 AM |
Break Short transition break |
PreCon Area |
| 10:00 AM |
PreCon — Jimmy Radcliffe: Developmental [Power Protocols] Jump Progressions Bound Progressions Hop Progressions |
PreCon Training Space |
| 11:00 AM |
PreCon — Jimmy Radcliffe: Reflex Strength Training Push Versions Swing Versions Stimulation “Priming” Applications |
PreCon Training Space |
| 12:00–12:30 PM |
Lunch Midday meal between PreCon blocks |
Dining Area |
| 12:30 PM |
PreCon — Jimmy Radcliffe: Transitional [Speed & Agility Protocols] Acceleration — Starts by Situation Agility — Speed Cuts & Power Cuts Speed — “Lift & Whip” |
PreCon Training Space |
| 2:00 PM |
PreCon Conclusion Wrap-up and transition into NatCon opening events |
PreCon Room |
| 1:00–2:45 PM | Registration / Partner Booths Open NatCon arrival, check-in, and partner access |
Lobby / Partner Area |
| 2:45–3:00 PM | Welcome — Rich Gray & Eric Cash Official NatCon opening remarks |
Main Space |
| 3:00–3:50 PM | Lecture — Dan Mullin The GPS Playbook: Using game data to build your off-season plan |
Main Space |
| 4:00–4:50 PM | Regional Breakouts Connect with coaches in your region |
Breakout Areas |
| 5:00–5:50 PM |
Hands-On Session 1 Brad Arnett — Global Core Progressions Dan Fichter — Brains and the Barbell Liane Blyne — The Art of Deadlifting Kyle Speer — Utilizing Barbell & Dumbbell Complexes |
Open Space / Weight Room / Turf |
| 6:00–7:30 PM | Dinner & Keynote — Jason Maxwell Ensworth High School Athletic Director |
Main Dining / Keynote Space |
| 7:30–8:30 PM | Awards Celebration Adam Attalah, Master of Ceremonies |
Main Space |
Saturday: NatCon Main Day
Saturday features community gatherings, partner time, repeated hands-on opportunities, mini-breakouts, a featured lecture, closing speaker, raffle, and conference wrap-up.
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00–7:50 AM | Women’s Coaches & Coffee Corliss Fingers — My Journey is Our Journey |
Coffee / Gathering Space |
| 8:00–8:50 AM | Hall of Fame Roundtable & Breakfast Breakfast and discussion with respected leaders in the profession |
Breakfast Area |
| 9:00–9:30 AM | Partner Session 2 Featured partner presentation block |
Partner Session Space |
| 9:40–10:30 AM |
Hands-On Session 2 Dan Fichter — Brains and the Barbell Liane Blyne — The Art of Deadlifting Scott Meier — Farmington's Holistic Agility & Change-of Direction Approach Leo Burks |
Weight Room / Turf / Open Space |
| 10:40–11:30 AM |
Mini-Breakouts Ryan Johnson — Sleep & Recovery Amanda Thober — Programming Eli Hammond — Using AI in the S&C Setting Chalk Talk |
Breakout Rooms |
| 11:40 AM–12:30 PM | Lecture — Nick Cornell Developing CHARACTER, CULTURE, and COMMUNITY |
Main Space |
| 12:30–1:20 PM | Lunch Midday meal |
Dining Area |
| 1:30–2:00 PM | Partner Session 3 Featured partner presentation block |
Partner Session Space |
| 2:10–3:00 PM |
Hands-On Session 3 Brad Arnett — Global Core Progressions Kyle Speer — Utilizing Barbell & Dumbbell Complexes Scott Meier — Farmington's Holistic Agility & Change-of Direction Approach Leo Burks |
Training Spaces |
| 3:10–4:00 PM |
Mini-Breakouts Ryan Johnson — Sleep & Recovery Amanda Thober — Programming Eli Hammond — Using AI in the S&C Setting Chalk Talk |
Breakout Rooms |
| 4:10–5:00 PM | Speaker 3 — Joe Stokowski & Aaron Hill Featured closing presentation |
Main Space |
| 5:10–5:30 PM | Raffle Closing giveaway and final gathering |
Main Space |
| 5:30 PM | Sweep the Sheds Conference close and final wrap-up |
Facility |
Bonus Option: USAW Certification Add-On
NatCon week also includes a USAW certification opportunity on February 17–18, giving coaches an additional professional development option tied to the broader conference experience.
This section can be expanded later with your final USAW registration copy, instructor details, capacity, and CTA.
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.
(These are the eligible dates for the special hotel rate — not the official conference schedule.)
Tuesday, June 16 – Sunday, June 21, 2026: This extended stay window allows attendees participating in:
- USAW Certification (June 17–18)
- #Family Social (June 18)
- PreCon Sessions (June 19)
- NatCon (June 19–20)
to receive the discounted NHSSCA room rate.
Hotel Details
Hotel: Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield
Special NHSSCA Rate: $142.00 per night
Last Day to Book at Group Rate: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Rooms are available at the group rate during the listed stay window, subject to availability.
Who's coming?
25 people are attending 2026 NHSSCA National Conference — 10-Year Anniversary
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