Scientist or Engineer — BASC | Strength & Conditioning

Take home message

DELIVER RELIABLE COMPETENCE.

For Coaches

It is likely the information exists for you to deliver reliable competence.

For Athletes

It’s great to push the boundaries of performance. Ensure your fundamentals are established first.

I heard this wonderful comparison recently between scientists and engineers that really got me thinking about my craft. The guest on the podcast stated that if a scientist is doing something that is already known, they should not be doing it. Scientists explore beyond what is already known. By contrast, engineers are tasked to deliver reliable competence. If they do not know what they are doing, they should not be doing it. No one wants to drive over an experimental bridge. However, given the difference in these definitions I feel I have to identify less as a scientist - exploring beyond what I know - and more as the engineer - delivering reliable competence.

I studied sport science and identify as a scientist, not an engineer. But as a coach, entrusted with the development of physical capacity, should I only be doing what I know works? My athletes do not want experimental programs. They are not my ‘lab rats’ for me to trial new programs. They want to know that what I am prescribing, what I am programming is going to work (“I think the bridge will hold”, just isn’t going to cut it). They want results. Am I more of a sports engineer?

But an interesting situation arises when I consider that every situation is actually different. It is not as straight forward as applying a mathematical formula or algorithm. Whilst there are underlying principles of physical development, the myriad of contextual factors inevitably dictates that not everything is known and that some programs have an element of exploration. I am using experiences and past examples, evaluating their relationship to the current context and then applying the best option. I’d love to know that everything I do is going to work, but I do not. There are always factors outside our control.

Next time you are considering your program or schedule design, consider if you need to be exploring beyond what is already known, or if you are delivering reliable competence.

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Thanks again. BA.