Chapter 12 Becoming a Physical Activity Professional

Becoming a Physical Activity Professional

Intro to Kinesiology: Shirl J. Hoffman

Physical Activity Professions

• Health and fitness• Therapeutic exercise• Teaching physical education• Coaching and sport instruction• Sport management• Sport psychology

Characteristics of Professionals

• Master complex skills • Perform services for others • Are granted a monopoly by the community to

supply certain services• Are guided by ethical codes • Meet expectations and standards prescribed by

their professional subcultures

Figure 12.4

How Are Physical Activity Professionals Educated for the Workplace?

Academic areas• Liberal arts and sciences • Course work in physical activity knowledge• Course work in theoretical kinesiology• Course work in professional practice

knowledge and professional skills• Internships

Chapter 13 Careers in Health and Fitness

Careers in Health and Fitness

Intro to Kinesiology: Sandra Minor Bulmer and Jeremy Howell

Professions in Health and Fitness

• Group fitness instructor• Health and fitness specialist• Wellness coach• Personal trainer• Health and fitness director• Specialist positions

– Public health educator – Clinical exercise physiologist– Registered dietitian

• Others

Expanding Scope of Health and Fitness Profession

• The core goal of these professions is – to improve physical functioning – and physical health of individuals and communities.

• Multifaceted view of health and fitness, including physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions.

Health and Fitness Settings

• Worksite– Reduce health care costs, increase productivity and

morale, decrease absenteeism, improve image• Commercial• Clinical• Community

Recently, the lines between these settings have blurred, resulting in expanded job descriptions and a greater number of positions.

Group Exercise Instructor• Leader of aerobic exercise classes, outdoor

activities, aquatic fitness classes, exercise classes for specific populations

• Degree in kinesiology or another health- and fitness-related discipline recommended

• Competent with current exercise trends (for example, Pilates, yoga, tai chi)

• Certified: ACSM exercise leader or ACE group fitness instructor

• Needs to be knowledgeable and dynamic, have excellent leadership skills, & enjoy working with people in a group setting

(continued)

Fitness Instructor

• Works with apparently healthy adults• Conducts fitness assessments, designs

individualized exercise programs• Has bachelor’s degree in kinesiology or

another health- and fitness-related discipline recommended

• Able to excite people to become and stay physically active

• Requires degree in kinesiology or another health- and fitness-related discipline

• Conducts fitness and functional assessments, designs comprehensive individualized exercise programs that incorporate strength, flexibility, and aerobic fitness components and maximize safety and long-term results

• Works with specialized populations (such as elderly, children, adolescents)

Health and Fitness Specialist

Wellness Coach• Relatively new career option• Requires minimum of bachelor’s degree in

kinesiology or another health- and fitness-related discipline

• Helps others change their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health by focusing on behavior change, stress management, relaxation techniques, time management, smoking cessation, weight management, and exercise prescription

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in kinesiology or another health- and fitness-related discipline

• Certified and experienced• Understands weight management, stress

management, physical fitness, sport conditioning

• Works independently or is employed at a facility

• “Counselor”• Aesthetic or performance objectives

(continued)

Personal Trainer

Health and Fitness Director• Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology; may

require graduate degree• Experience as health and fitness counselor

or personal trainer• ACSM health or fitness director• Visionary who keeps current with the field

of health and fitness and a mentor who supports staff members in moving toward individual goals and aspirations

(continued)

Health and Fitness Director (continued)

• Manages facility’s services and programs• May supervise team of managers• Hires, trains, and provides support for staff• Does business planning, establishes

budgets and renovations, selects equipment, designs and markets programs, forecasts trends

Specialist Positions

• Sport coach, athletic trainer, strength & conditioning coach, health educator, clinical exercise physiologist, physical therapist, registered dietitian, population specialist, public health educator

• Graduate-level studies; bachelor’s degree in kinesiology or another health- and fitness-related discipline

• Many require certifications, licensure• Client base with medical conditions; registered

dietitian and ACSM exercise specialist

Certification and Continuing Education

• Minimum criteria must be met to be hired and maintain your position in the health and fitness professions.

• Several certification organizations can assist with this process. – American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)– National Strength and Conditioning Association

(NSCA)– National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)– Cooper Institute (CI)– American Council on Exercise (ACE)

Advice for Health and Fitness Students

• Earn a combined degree in kinesiology plus another discipline (health, psychology).

• Seek practical experience through practicum opportunities and internships.

• Attend workshops and obtain certifications through NSCA, ACSM, ACE, CI.

• Stay current: Read health and fitness journals and industry publications.

• Maximize your marketability with your choice of elective courses.

Chapter 14 Careers in Therapeutic Exercise

Careers in Therapeutic Exercise

Intro to Kinesiology: Chad Starkey

Goals of Therapeutic Exercise Professionals

To help people restore lost function (rehabilitative therapeutic exercise) or acquire skills and functions considered normal or expected (habilitative therapeutic exercise) Programmed physical activity aimed at improving or restoring the quality of life

Therapeutic Exercise Focus

To help individuals who are experiencing physical dysfunction stemming from traumatic injury, congenital defects, or disease to regain the use of the affected body part or compensate for its disability

Rehabilitative Therapeutic Exercise

Exercise therapy for the rehabilitation of – Musculoskeletal injuries– Athletic injuries– Postsurgical trauma– Older populations– Psychological disorders (mind–body

relationship)– Cardiopulmonary system

Habilitative Therapeutic Exercise

Exercise therapy for habilitation of– Obese populations– Children with developmental disorders– General fitness– Specialized performance (meet standards

that exceed rather than merely meet those of the general population such as sport training, military boot camp, fire or police academy)

Athletic TrainerResponsible for the prevention, evaluation, management, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries

• Education and credentialsCertification through the Commission on Accreditation

of Athletic Training Education (CAATE); clinical experience required

• Employment opportunitiesHigh schools, colleges and universities, and

professional sport teams, hospitals, sports medicine clinics, industrial rehabilitation clinics, and other allied medical environments

Clinical Exercise Physiologist

• Cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic disease care– Exercise testing and prescription – Program administration

• Education and credentials– Recommended undergraduate and graduate degree– Specialized courses and certifications (ACSM)

• Exercise specialist (ES)• Registered clinical exercise physiologist (RCEP)

– Required credentials vary by state

(continued)

Occupational Therapist• Helps injured or ill individuals reach their

maximum level of independence by emphasizing the acquisition and retention of functional skills

• Education and credentials– National Board for Certification in Occupational

Therapy, Inc.– State licensure– OT: master’s degree (as of 2007)– COTA (certified occupational therapy assistants)

two-year degree program

Physical Therapy Specialty Certifications

Physical Therapist• Provides rehabilitative care to a diverse patient

population with a wide range of injuries, illnesses, and diseases

• Education and credentials– Physical therapist (plans, directs, implements patient

care)• Accredited master’s degree program (doctorate of PT

required by 2020)• State licensure

– Physical therapist assistant• Delivers care under direction of PT• Accredited two-year program• State licensure

(continued)

Strength and Conditioning Specialist• Maximizes physical performance, reduces the

frequency of injury, and decreases the possibility of cardiovascular disease by designing programs for the specific needs of the individual (sport and activity specific)

• Education and credentials– Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology preferred, required for some

certifications– Certifications recommended (such as National Strength and

Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist)

– Current CPR certification• Employment opportunities

Chapter 15 Careers in Teaching Physical Education

Careers in Teaching Physical Education

Intro to Kinesiology: Kim C. Graber and Thomas J. Templin

What Do Physical Activity Pedagogues Do?

• Teach in public and private schools (elementary, middle, high school; adapted physical education; curriculum specialist)

• Coach • Recreation leaders• Instructors at corporate fitness centers or

community recreation centers • Specialists or skill instructors • Professors and/or Researchers

d)

Certification and Continuing Education

• Degree from accredited teacher education program

• Passing Praxis I and Praxis II tests as required by individual states

• State license requirement• Continuing education requirements (vary by

state)• Additional certifications (may be required

for coaching and other specializations)

Alternative Curriculums• The elective curriculum• The fitness curriculum • The sport education model • The wilderness and adventure education

curriculum• The social development model • The teaching games for understanding model

Effective teachers are concerned with implementing curricular models that are interesting to students and produce the greatest opportunity for student learning.

Figure 15.2

NASPE Standards for Initial Physical Education Teachers

• Standard 1: Scientific and Theoretical Knowledge

• Standard 2: Skill-Based and Fitness-Based Competence

• Standard 3: Planning and Implementation

• Standard 4: Instructional Delivery and Management

• Standard 5: Impact on Student Learning

• Standard 6: Professionalism

Advice for Future Teachers

• Never stop learning to teach (embrace belief that learning is a lifelong process).

• Join professional associations (start now with student membership).

• Remain current on research literature (put research-based best practices into action).

• Strive to be your best (become the next Teacher of the Year; local, state, national honors).

Chapter 16 Careers in Coaching and Sport Instruction

Careers in Coaching and Sport Instruction

Intro to Kinesiology: Joseph A. Luxbacher and Shirl J. Hoffman

Figure 16.3

Coaching and Sport Instruction Settings (continued)

• Community settings• Institutional settings

– High school and middle school settings

– College and university settings

– Other institutional settings

• Commercial sport settingsFor-hire by elite athletes

K–12 Teachers

• Instruction in motor skills, sport strategies, fitness, healthy lifestyles

• Bachelor’s degree or higher plus state teaching licensure

• Many secondary responsibilities– Grading, workshops, clubs, parent meetings,

equipment purchase and maintenance– May also coach in school and nonschool settings

Community College Instructors

• Teach focused activity classes and classes in health, first aid, and CPR

• Master’s degree

University and Colleges

Positions and responsibilities vary depending on the size and focus of athletics at the institution• Larger four-year institutions: coaching is the primary

(and often only) responsibility.• Smaller four-year institutions and community

colleges: coaching is a secondary duty and is one of many held by each individual coach.

Community Coaches

• Volunteer positions• Coach practices and weekly games, attend

coaches’ meetings• Teach basic skills, teach rules of the game,

keep game stats• American Sport Education Program (ASEP)

or National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) certification or National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)

Secondary Public School Coaches

• Primarily teach; receive stipend for coaching

• Teach physical skills; keep stats; schedule practices, games, tournaments; manage equipment; arrange transportation; raise funds

• NASPE National Standards for Athletic Coaches

• ASEP or NFHS certification

College and University Coaches

• Team and facility management, budgeting, recruiting, public relations, athlete eligibility

• Winning more important• Differences between Division I, II, and III

schools• No national or state requirements—

established name, college playing experience, coaching experience

Professional Sport Coaches

• Many nonteaching and noncoaching duties: administration, recruitment, media appearances

• Employment retention depends on producing a winning team

• No national or state requirements—established name

Sport Psychologists• Trained practitioners

– Clinical– Educational

• Teach athletes mental imagery, relaxation, goal setting, self-talk, concentration for purpose of performance enhancement

• No national certification requirements• AAASP-certified consulting program

Note: Coaches may opt to receive training in sport psychology to assist when a sport psychologist is not present.

National Federation of State High School Associations Coaches Code of Ethics

• Develop character.• Be honorable.• Take an active role in prevention of

substance abuse.• Avoid use of alcohol and tobacco in

athletes’ presence.• Promote entire interscholastic program.

(continued)

National Federation of State High School Associations Coaches Code of Ethics

(continued)

• Be knowledgeable of rules.• Enhance sportsmanship.• Respect officials.• Be cordial.• Do not exert pressure on faculty.• Practice legal scouting.

Chapter 17 Careers in Sport Management

Careers in Sport Management

Intro to Kinesiology: G. Clayton Stoldt and Mark C. Vermillion

Goal of Sport Management Professions

To provide support services, facilities, and other amenities to make physical activity experiences—performance as well as spectatorship—as enjoyable as possible

Sport managers are more involved in the activities and job responsibilities surrounding the actual event than they are in the sport or activity itself.

Sport Management Settings

• Sport entertainment• Sport participation

– For-profit participation segment– Nonprofit participation segment

• Support services– Sporting goods– Sport services (such as insurance, licensing,

travel)

Professions in Sport Management

• Event management• Financial management• Human resource management• Risk management• Marketing management• Public relations management• Program management

– Scheduling– Facility and equipment maintenance

Marketing Management

• Research and development• Sport promotion• Sponsorship• Advertising• Merchandising• Distribution

Education

• The North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) competency standards– Bachelor’s degree– Master’s degree– Doctoral degree

• The Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA)

• Internships and field experience are critical

Advice to Sport Management Students

• The field of sport management is hyper-competitive, so it is critical to – gain as much practical experience as possible

(internships are key),– seek a mentor, and– build a professional network.

• The field of sport management is diverse, so be sure to account for this in your preparation.