Unlocking Athletic Potential: The HSSCC Advantage
Elevating High School Strength & Conditioning Nationwide
Why HSSCC? The Difference is Clear
Authenticity You Can Trust
Crafted by high school S&C coaches for high school S&C coaches.
Exclusivity and Relevance
Content tailored exclusively for the high school coaching context.
Flexibility At Its Best
Mobile-friendly, accessible anytime, anywhere.
Community & Collaboration
Join an exclusive discussion group of professional members. Share, learn, and grow together.
Hassle-Free Certification
Say goodbye to on-site testing and traveling. Your journey to certification is now seamless.
Transforming The High School Sports Landscape
By empowering high school strength coaches with the HSSCC, we’re paving the way for superior training programs, ensuring student-athletes reach their full potential nationwide. We’re creating better coaches and shaping the future of high school sports.
What You'll Learn
- Unit 1: Uncover the foundations of high school strength and conditioning, including coaching fundamentals, history, strength and conditioning principles, basic functional anatomy and an introduction to exercise physiology.
- Unit 2: Explore Long Term Athletic Development and periodization strategies that provide recommendations for coaches to help students improve through structured and progressive training programs while offering different training systems and methods.
- Unit 3: Become aware of various aspects of performance preparation, recovery, and regeneration for athletes, including warm-ups, recovery strategies, return-to-play protocols, and more.
- Unit 4: See information on strength development and exercise, as well as considerations for female athletes, including ACL injuries, body image, and program design.
- Unit 5: Learn about plyometric drills (lower, core, upper), their role in power development, and how to safely incorporate them into a training program.
- Unit 6: Assimilate an in-depth discussion of agility development, including its definition, mechanics and drills, programming, and coaching considerations for designing effective agility training programs.
- Unit 7: Grasp acceleration mechanics, instruction on teaching sprint mechanics in a team setting, and the associated factors of periodization and programming for speed training.
- Unit 8: Gain knowledge about various conditioning protocols applicable in the high school setting, energy systems, testing and assessment, training methods, programming and periodization, and considerations for training high school athletes who may be involved in multiple sports.
- Unit 9: Study the importance of testing, analysis, and evaluation in strength and conditioning programs for athletes, guiding how to conduct evaluations, create movement and athletic profiles, and implement corrective exercise programs.
- Unit 10: Accomplish the importance of character development and nutrition education for high school student-athletes, tips for implementing these programs, and other important aspects of coaching, such as order and safety, building trust and relationships, and teaching and coaching strategies.
- Unit 11: Become well-grounded in the best practices for educators to create successful strength and conditioning courses, including developing a course description, syllabus, and curriculum with learning outcomes and assessments while emphasizing equity, integrity, and respect for all students.
- Unit 12: Get guidance on developing effective communication for creating an athletic development program, working with medical teams, parents, administration, staffing, and risk management.
What Coaches Are SayING about THE HSSCC
The HSSCC is in the beta phase, with a full-featured release scheduled for July 2025. Watch the video and learn more.
Certification Includes:
- Full lifetime access
- Over 48-hours of on-demand content
- 12 Units | 43 Chapters
- 43 quizzes | 24 Case Studies
- High-quality, animated exercises (available early 2024)
- Access on mobile and desktop
- Certificate of Completion
HSSCC Requirements
- A high school coach with an active NHSSCA Professional Membership.
- Student pursuing coaching with an NHSSCA Student Membership.
- We support varied S&C roles in Prep, Private, Public Schools, and Training Facilities, regardless of teacher certification, impacting high school athletes.
- A teacher/professor who wishes to utilize HSSCC in an academic setting aims to integrate this certification into their academic environment, thereby enriching the educational experience of their students.
Staff Packages Available
Get your coaches, staff, or team access to the HSSCC anytime, anywhere, and save.
ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION
Dr Mike Martino
Ph.D., CSCS*D, EBFA-MI, FMS, CBRC, CES
Watch Dr. Mike Martino, Senior Editor of the High School Strength Coach Certification (HSSCC), answer some frequently asked questions.
PRICING INFO
Check out our certification options
- The HSSCC is in beta at a special price of $150.
- Starting July 1, 2025, it will go to $199.99.
To access the High School Strength and Conditioning Coach certification (HSSCC) and its benefits, you must be a Professional Member of the NHSSCA, which requires a $100 membership fee.
Grab these deals while they last!
CEU REPORTING COMING SOON!
We are thrilled to announce that soon, tracking, managing, and reporting on your HSSCC Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be easier than ever.
NHSSCA Future Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
CEU activities are divided into six distinct categories. We propose that HSSCC candidates complete the required hours from four of these six categories. The proposed requirement is 60 contact hours every three calendar years. Candidates must complete a minimum of 10 hours per category, with a maximum of 20 hours in any single category. We welcome your feedback on this proposal.
CATEGORIES
| A | NHSSCA Online Coursework |
|---|---|
| B | Conference/Clinics/Family Day Participation |
| C | Teaching and Coaching Activities |
| D | Professional Development and Scholarly Activities |
| E | Outside Professional CEU Activities |
| F | NHSSCA Volunteer Work |
CEU CATEGORIES
| A | B | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSSCC cert | National | Teaching appt | Publications | NSCA | State |
| NHSSCA courses | Regional | Coaching position | Presentations | NATA | Regional |
| State | Workshops | CSCCa | National | ||
| Family days | NHSSCA Educational Partners | NHSCA | Committees | ||
| Coaching Corners | NHSACA | ||||
| NFHS |
Proposed Distribution:
- Category A (NHSSCA Online Coursework):
- Minimum: 10 hours
- Maximum: 20 hours
- Category B (Conference/Clinics/Family Day Participation):
- Minimum: 10 hours
- Maximum: 20 hours
- Category C (Teaching and Coaching Activities):
- Minimum: 10 hours
- Maximum: 20 hours
- Category D (Professional Development and Scholarly Activities):
- Minimum: 10 hours
- Maximum: 20 hours
- Category E (Outside Professional CEU Activities):
- Minimum: 10 hours
- Maximum: 20 hours
- Category F (NHSSCA Volunteer Work):
- Minimum: 10 hours
- Maximum: 20 hours
Examples of CEU Hour Distribution
Here are a few specific examples of how the 60 hours can be distributed among the categories while adhering to the minimum and maximum hour requirements:
Example 1: Balanced Distribution
- Category A (NHSSCA Online Coursework): 15 hours
- Category B (Conference/Clinics/Family Day Participation): 15 hours
- Category C (Teaching and Coaching Activities): 15 hours
- Category D (Professional Development and Scholarly Activities): 15 hours
- Total: 60 hours
Example 2: Emphasis on Professional Development and Volunteer Work
- Category A (NHSSCA Online Coursework): 10 hours
- Category B (Conference/Clinics/Family Day Participation): 10 hours
- Category D (Professional Development and Scholarly Activities): 20 hours
- Category F (NHSSCA Volunteer Work): 20 hours
- Total: 60 hours
Example 3: Focus on Teaching and External Activities
- Category C (Teaching and Coaching Activities): 20 hours
- Category E (Outside Professional CEU Activities): 20 hours
- Category A (NHSSCA Online Coursework): 10 hours
- Category B (Conference/Clinics/Family Day Participation): 10 hours
- Total: 60 hours
Example 4: Diverse Distribution
- Category A (NHSSCA Online Coursework): 12 hours
- Category B (Conference/Clinics/Family Day Participation): 13 hours
- Category C (Teaching and Coaching Activities): 15 hours
- Category D (Professional Development and Scholarly Activities): 10 hours
- Category F (NHSSCA Volunteer Work): 10 hours
Total: 60 hours
Example to Meet The CEU Requirement:
- Category A: 15 hours
- Category B: 15 hours
- Category C: 15 hours
- Category D: 15 hours
- Total: 60 hours (covering four categories, each with at least 10 hours and not exceeding 20 hours)
Category E Advantage
Cost-Effective CEU Strategies
- Category A: NHSSCA Online Coursework
- Online courses (e.g., Critical Reload Stream): $100 (15 hrs)
- Category B: Conference/ Clinics/ Family Day Participation
- State Clinic: $50 (4 hrs)
- Local Family Day: Travel cost only (3 hrs)
- Category C: Teaching and Coaching Activities
- Local Coaching Position: No cost (20 hrs)
- Category D: Professional Development and Scholarly Activities
- Free Online Workshops/Webinars: No cost (10 hrs)
- Category E: Outside Professional CEU Activities
- NSCA State Clinic: $100 (5 hrs)
- Category F: NHSSCA Volunteer Work
- Volunteer Activities: No cost (10 hrs)
- Total: $250
CERTIFICATION FAQs
The HSSCC is offered at a special beta phase price of $150 until early July 2025.
Post-beta phase, the price of the HSSCC will increase to $199.99 on July 1, 2025.
The beta phase includes updates and additions of videos, images, tables, charts, and graphs to enhance the learning material.
The upcoming full-feature release will introduce improved videos and detailed imagery to provide a more comprehensive and engaging educational journey.
The HSSCC platform is mobile-friendly, accessible anywhere, anytime, and allows for self-paced learning without the need for on-site testing or travel.
The HSSCC offers over 48 hours of on-demand content, divided into 12 units and 43 chapters, complete with quizzes and case studies for a thorough understanding of the subject matter.
The timeline for completing the HSSCC certification is flexible to accommodate different schedules, typically requiring 3 months in the Fall semester and approximately 6 weeks in the summer. However, participants are allotted a 12-month period to finish the certification. Failure to complete within this timeframe necessitates re-purchasing the certification for another attempt, ensuring all candidates meet the program’s comprehensive standards and outcomes.
The HSSCC is offered at a reduced price of $150 until early 2024, after which it will be $199.99.
Purchasers must be Professional Members ($100 fee). Eligibility extends to high school coaches with NHSSCA Professional Membership, students pursuing coaching, and teachers/professors wishing to integrate HSSCC academically.
The certification is valid for 3 years. While initially CEUs are not required, starting from 2026, CEUs will become necessary for maintaining certification.
To become an NHSSCA Professional Member and purchase HSSCC, visit the NHSSCA website, select the Professional Membership, and follow the sign-up instructions. Once a member, you can purchase HSSCC from the certification section.
Yes, faculty members, even those without current high school coaching roles, can oversee and integrate the HSSCC program into their academic curriculum, especially in areas like PK-12 and Secondary Physical Education.
Faculty members must become Professional Members of NHSSCA ($100 membership fee) to purchase and enroll in the HSSCC certification. This ensures they’re fully acquainted with the content their students will learn.
Incorporating HSSCC into the curriculum provides students with valuable knowledge and practical skills, preparing them effectively for future coaching or teaching roles in physical education and strength and conditioning.
NHSSCA provides support and guidance for educators looking to incorporate HSSCC into their programs, including direct contact with NHSSCA representatives to discuss implementation details.
Educators should contact NHSSCA directly to discuss their academic intentions and explore how the HSSCC certification can be tailored to enrich their educational offerings.
NHSSCA candidates need to acquire a total of 60 contact hours every three calendar years. These hours must be obtained from at least four different categories, with a minimum of 10 hours and a maximum of 20 hours in any one category.
The six CEU categories are:
- Category A: NHSSCA Online Coursework
- Category B: Conference/Clinics/Family Day Participation
- Category C: Teaching and Coaching Activities
- Category D: Professional Development and Scholarly Activities
- Category E: Outside Professional CEU Activities
- Category F: NHSSCA Volunteer Work
You can distribute your CEU hours by completing activities in at least four of the six categories. Here are a few examples of possible distributions:
Example 1: Balanced Distribution
- Category A: 15 hours
- Category B: 15 hours
- Category C: 15 hours
- Category D: 15 hours
- Total: 60 hours
Example 2: Emphasis on Professional Development and Volunteer Work
- Category A: 10 hours
- Category B: 10 hours
- Category D: 20 hours
- Category F: 20 hours
- Total: 60 hours
Category A: NHSSCA Online Coursework
- NHSSCA online courses, Critical Reload Stream
- Documentation: Certificates of completion
Category B: Conference/Clinics/Family Day Participation
- Participation in regional, state, or national conferences and clinics
- Documentation: Registration receipts, attendance certificates
Category C: Teaching and Coaching Activities
- Holding teaching appointments, coaching positions
- Documentation: Appointment letters, schedules
Category D: Professional Development and Scholarly Activities
- Engaging in professional development through publications, presentations
- Documentation: Copies of publications, presentation slides
Category E: Outside Professional CEU Activities
- Attending workshops or conferences by external providers like NSCA, NATA
- Documentation: Certificates from external CEU providers
Category F: NHSSCA Volunteer Work
- Volunteering for NHSSCA events, committees
- Documentation: Letters from committee chairs, confirmation emails
To manage and reduce costs:
- Utilize affordable online courses (e.g., NHSSCA online offerings)
- Participate in local clinics and workshops to minimize travel expenses
- Explore opportunities for school district or employer funding
- Leverage free or low-cost volunteer work and local events
Here’s a breakdown of how costs can be managed most cost effectively.
- Category A: NHSSCA Online Coursework
- Online courses (e.g., Critical Reload Stream): $100 (15 hrs)
- Category B: Conference/ Clinics/ Family Day Participation
- State Clinic: $50 (4 hrs)
- Local Family Day: Travel cost only (3 hrs)
- Category C: Teaching and Coaching Activities
- Local Coaching Position: No cost (20 hrs)
- Category D: Professional Development and Scholarly Activities
- Free Online Workshops/Webinars: No cost (10 hrs)
- Category E: Outside Professional CEU Activities
- NSCA State Clinic: $100 (5 hrs)
- Category F: NHSSCA Volunteer Work
- Volunteer Activities: No cost (10 hrs)
- Total: $250
Investing in CEUs is important because it:
- Enhances your knowledge, skills, and effectiveness as a coach
- Improves career advancement opportunities and potential earnings
- Directly benefits athletes through improved coaching methods
- Promotes continuous improvement and comprehensive development within the NHSSCA framework
Consider utilizing more cost-effective options such as:
- Online courses and free webinars
- Local or regional clinics
- Volunteering opportunities within NHSSCA
- Seeking financial support from your school district or employer
Educators with a teaching license must attend professional development sessions and report CEUs to maintain their license. Coaches in school settings without a teaching license can also attend these sessions, which are often required and provided in-house by the school district. These sessions align perfectly with Category E for the HSSCC CEU recertification.
The upcoming CEU reporting feature will allow you to:
- Assign Credits: Allocate credits, hours, CEUs, or CPD values to your courses.
- Award Certificates: Recognize and reward accomplishments with certificates.
- Track Compliance Training: Ensure all compliance training is accurately recorded.
- Comprehensive Reporting: Report on cumulative accomplishments, including those earned outside of the platform.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new feature that will streamline your professional development and make managing your CEUs more efficient and effective.
GOT QUESTIONS?
Please submit your questions about the HSSCC and CEUs, and we will respond within 24-48 hours. Additionally, your submission will help us build a Frequently Asked Questions section to assist others with similar inquiries.
