I just wanted to take a quick second to share with you a question I recieved from a former inter, a question that I feel most younger aspiring or current strength coaches might have themselves.

The original email;

Hey Craig,

I was wondering if you have any books you could recommend to me as a good read for strength and conditioning. I have been reading Functional Training for Sports by Boyle, and have been starting to read Triphasic Training by Cal Dietz.

If you end up having any free time in your busy schedule, I’d love to hear your thoughts and recommendations. Thank you.

My response;

I could go on forever because I am kind of a nerd when it comes to reading and/or just learning in general. I’m sure you have heard of or read some of these, but this is what comes to mind.

S&C/Physical Therapy Books:

• Movement by Gray Cook
• Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes by Shirley Sahrmann
• Advances in Functional Training for Sport by Boyle (I’d wait, he’s writing a new book coming out within the next year)
• Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett
• Low Back Disorders by Stuart McGill
• Corrective Exercise Solutions to Common Shoulder and Hip Dysfunction by Evan Osar

Personal Development/Coaching Books:

• The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
• InsideOut Coaching by Joe Ehrmann
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
• Make Today Count by John Maxwell

I’d also listen to as many podcasts as possible. Things like Mike Boyle’s Strength Coach Podcast, EliteFTS Sports Performance Podcast, Pacey Performance Podcast, the FitCast, ect.

Finally, find some people you trust through either knowing them personally or following their work and listen to everything they have to say. For me that’s obviously Mike Boyle, Eric Cressey, Charlie Weingroff and Gray Cook, along with a lot of the stuff coming out of the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI).

Hopefully this helps some younger strength coaches and potentially even some strength coaches that have been in the game for a little while. I personally went back and re-read some of these books, which has both reminded me of some things that I had forgotten about, as well as taught me some things that I may not of understood the first time around (Movement is a wealth of information).