The primary goal of strength and conditioning coaches is to enhance the physical prowess of their athletes. However, the journey often goes beyond just physical training. It’s about instilling values, creating lifelong habits, and understanding the broader implications of being a coach. Coach Nick Mascioli strives to do all of these things and chooses companies like Samson Equipment to help him on his mission.
Mascioli is the Director of Athletic Performance and Track Coach at Second Baptist School in Houston, Texas. He completed his degree in exercise science at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, where he also played baseball and was a member of the 2012 Division II World Series Championship team. He has been a physical preparation coach in almost every setting – notably serving as strength and conditioning coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates – before obtaining his master’s degree in exercise science and joining Second Baptist School.
Physical education provides a unique platform to influence young minds. It’s not just about teaching kids to lift weights or run faster. It’s about showing them their own potential, the importance of discipline, and the value of consistent effort. Coaches have the chance to mold young minds and set them on a path of lifelong physical well-being.
Coach Mascioli offers a three-step approach toward setting athletes on a path of progress:
- Move Well: Before strength or speed, the foundation lies in movement. Proper form, balance, and flexibility are crucial.
- Move Strong: After the basics are in place, athletes can begin building strength. It’s necessary for athletes to know how to move properly before they can effectively develop power and endurance.
- Move Fast: With strength comes the ability to move with speed and intent. Once athletes develop a base level of strength, they can focus on enhancing agility, reflexes, and quickness.
Proper movement is crucial to training properly but consistency is the key to success. Mascioli emphasizes that it’s simple things, done repeatedly, that yield the most significant results. Behind the best athletes lie countless hours of consistent effort. Whether it’s adhering to a strict bedtime, maintaining a balanced diet, or practicing until perfection, consistency is necessary for results.
The weight room is more than just a place to build muscles. It’s also a classroom where life skills can be taught. Discipline, perseverance, goal-setting – these are lessons that athletes carry with them long after they leave the weight room. Mascioli believes that training should not only prepare athletes for the next game but for life.
“I talk a lot to our kids about lifelong skills and so the weight room then becomes something they actually enjoy,” Mascioli says. “Not just what it’s going to do for them athletically, but how it’s something they actually need for the rest of their lives to make sure they stay healthy.”
In the process of growth, outside partners can play a pivotal role. When it was time for Mascioli’s program to expand its scope, he looked for a company that could design a state-of-the-art weight room with the same level of passion as he exhibits. After reviewing the options available, he found Samson Equipment to be the perfect people for the job.
Companies like Samson play an invaluable role in helping coaches maximize their impact on students. The equipment they install is of the highest quality and their expertise ensures that equipment upgrades are not just swift but also align with the program’s needs. A well-equipped weight room can significantly enhance the training experience, accommodating more students and motivating athletes to use the equipment available to them.
“As someone who feels like they are always trying to do really good work and impact people’s lives, that’s how I feel Samson is,” says Mascioli. “They’re trying to do really good work to impact coaches and students and athletes, and it’s not about them.”
At the heart of it all, the role of a strength coach is about making a difference. It’s about impacting lives, shaping futures, and creating a legacy of health and fitness. Companies like Samson share this vision, working tirelessly to support coaches, students, and athletes. Their commitment goes beyond business; it’s about genuine impact.
The journey of a strength and conditioning coach is filled with lessons, challenges, and opportunities. It’s a role that demands passion, dedication, and a deep understanding of the broader mission. By focusing on the right values, embracing growth, and building strong partnerships, coaches can ensure that their impact goes beyond the gym, shaping the future of athletes in every aspect of their lives.
Details
Samson Equipment provides customized, professional weight room solutions from premium grade materials, to deliver a long lasting, yet affordable product with over 40 years of experience.
