Strength and Conditioning Software Alone Will Not Make Your Team Better

In recent talk, a CEO of fast growing technology company spoke very frankly about his product which is a software to help professionals stay in touch with their network: "Our software alone will not make our users better, they still have to practice good, valuable habits."

This is no secret to strength coaches either. The same principle applies: Strength and conditioning software alone will not make your program better. In a grinding profession such as strength and conditioning, a coach still needs to practice the same habits and character development that top strength coaches have in the past in order to climb to the top.

When thinking about equipment and software, think about them as tools. These tools can improve the program's efficiency, save coaches and athletes time, and give athletes more return on their efforts in the weight room or on the field. However, a successful culture is not built on tools - it is built on values and the willingness to be accountable to those values. If you ever hear a coach say, "We could have a dynasty program if only we had more money from our boosters to pay for better equipment and gear," quickly turn and run away.

Yes, new equipment helps. Yes, nice gear will put a little pep in the step of the teams. But it's a drop in the bucket to what really makes a strength and conditioning culture the foundation for a winning program. Obviously, there are no secrets when it comes to succeeding at the job when the requirements in the strength world call for 12 hour days that start at 5am or grueling through underpaid GA positions with no guarantee of a full-time position at the end.

Acquire new equipment for the return on effort and use the strength and conditioning software for the efficiency/time savings, but because strength and conditioning software alone won't make your team better, don't get caught up thinking that it's a cornerstone of a successful weight room. Seek that knowledge from Ron Mckeefery and other leaders in the field that believe shortcuts are good - not great.

Check out this video by Alabama football strength coach Scott Cochran. We don't hear him talking about having the nicest equipment or facilities in the NCAA - he's just doing 110 MPH all day, every day.