NSCA Bulletin | 36.05 | Page 8

NSCA.COM 2014 NSCA ELECTION PRESIDENT-ELECT GREG HAFF, PHD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA EDUCATION • 1999 — Doctorate of Philosophy in Education University of Kansas • 1996 — Master of Science in Exercise Science Appalachian State University • 1993 — Bachelor of Science in Physical Education East Stroudsburg University NSCA INVOLVEMENT • Board of Directors, Vice President (2009 – 2010) • Board of Directors (2007 – 2010) • NSCA-HPC Advisory Committee member (2010 – present) • Education Committee member (2009 – 2010) • National Conference Research Review Subcommittee member (2009 – present) • Research Committee member (2000 – 2006) VISION STATEMENT OUTLINING THE CRITICAL AND/OR SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES FACING THE NSCA, SPECIFIC GOALS FOR THE NSCA, AND AN INDICATION OF HOW SUCH GOALS MAY BE ACHIEVED The NSCA is an ever-expanding organization, which offers a place for a diverse array of constituents to be united by their passion for strength and conditioning. In the words of the great coach Vince Lombardi, our organization must continually “strive for perfection with the hope of achieving excellence.” It would be very easy for us as an organization to suggest that we are the world’s authority or we are the best organization in the world. However, I believe that if we fall victim to this thought process we will slowly begin to lose ground as an organization. Central to our ability to continue to move forward as an organization is the ability to leverage the diverse skill sets possessed by our membership. Simply put, our diversity is our strength and each member plays an important role as a strength and conditioning ambassador. After much reflection about the NSCA and where we should go over the next five years, I believe that the central goals we must strive for should include: 1) staying true to our mission statement, 2) embracing the diversity of our organization, 3) expanding our certification process, 4) expanding our international collaborations, whilst maintaining our domestic development, and 5) providing further opportunities for student development. As the organization expands, it is essential that we stay focused on our mission statement, which is centered on 8 NSCA BULLETIN | ISSUE 36.05 the translation of science to practical application. As such I believe the delicate balancing act by which we present science in an applied fashion must be considered without alienating the practical experiences of our membership. I believe that all educational initiatives can be based upon scientifically sound methods. When new ideas about training come to light the organization should consider how either science supports or refutes these ideas, and if no research exists about a topic the organization has a unique opportunity to fund research in these topic areas. As such I envision a deep collaboration or sharing of ideas between the scientists and those who are in the trenches as strength coaches, personal trainers, educators, or sports medicine professionals. This collaboration should be present at each conference or symposia, where all material presented should have a foundation of science and also contain a practical application by which the membership can utilize the information in the field. We are truly a diverse organization, with members from around the globe working in numerous professions. Each member should feel a part of something bigger than themselves and be committed to helping the organization grow in stature. As an organization, we must consider all of our decisions carefully, making sure to remember and embrace our rich history of strength coaching, while balancing the needs of our ever-expanding membership who may not be traditional strength coaches. For example, I believe that the NSCA should continue to champion government agencies for licensing personal trainers based upon our certification process. Additionally, continued efforts should be made within professional and collegiate sports in order to increase the value of NSCA certifications. Finally, the