Letter from Master Strength Coach Teena Murray

They say we don’t start thinking about giving back until we’re in our 50’s and on the downhill side of the slope.  Well, I’m not 50, and I’d like to think I’m still climbing, but I have started to think more about giving back.  Specifically, I’ve been thinking about ways I can give back and provide support to the young(er) female professionals in our industry.   I hate to admit it, but it is still a man’s world, and collegiate athletics (strength and conditioning in particular) is no exception.  Our numbers have grown (at last check there were about 125 of us in Division I ranks – 38% of full-time positions) but the quality of the positions we fill and related salaries are unimpressive.  In addition, opportunities for advancement are often very limited.   So what are good women (passionate about the field) to do?  For starters, I think we need to come together in our vision, agenda, and support for one another.   I recently visited Seneca Falls, NY – site of the First Women’s Rights Convention, out of which came equal rights legislation granting women the right to vote- and it gave me an appreciation for the power of a unified front and voice.  The ability to impact change is certainly greater when we are unified and speaking the same language.  Perhaps sharing our stories and struggles and creative ideas with each other (over email and phone calls and visits with people in your area, and this blog) can help us?  Perhaps it can even lead to similar great (and overdue) outcomes?     If I can offer any immediate advice, it is that we begin to act more like our male counterparts in ‘taking care of each other.’  For whatever reason, males do this instinctively.   We are all too familiar with the ‘good old boys’ mentality.  Well, let’s work on a establishing a ‘good old girls’ mentality.  Let’s promote each other, support each other, challenge and stretch each other.  Whether we agree or disagree with each others’ training philosophy and periodization strategies let’s do more to make each other better, and help each other be successful.  After all, we are in this together!   As with our female athletes, the greatest barrier we often face is our own lack of confidence.   Too often this is the reason we fail to take risks and/or push for what we deserve.  We work longer and harder, and take on more projects and responsibilities for no change in compensation.  Meanwhile, we are often as educated, knowledgeable and experienced (or more) as the males who are aggressively promoting themselves- and pursuing and obtaining.     OK, so here is my challenge to all of us women in strength- contact, visit, call, or email one female strength coach every month (for a total of 10-12) this school year.  Get to know each other.  Share ideas.  Share your challenges and frustrations.  Offer support.  Nudge each other to get uncomfortable!  By the end of the year (at CSCCa in May) let’s see if we can’t create a forum for discussing and sharing our experiences and brainstorming ideas for future success. You in?