Interview with Jordan Webster

Team Hallam S&C Interview with Jordan Webster

Name: Jordan Webster

Job Title: Graduate Intern Strength and Conditioning Coach

 

What sports do you currently work with?

I am currently working with Men’s Rugby Union, Netball, Women’s Football, Cycling, Women’s Lacrosse and Women’s American Football. I also work with scholarship athletes ranging from Wheelchair Basketball players to Decathletes. Outside of Team Hallam, I work with GB Wheelchair Basketball and ISKA kickboxing athletes.

 

 

 

How did you get into S&C?

In college, I got my Level 3 Personal Training qualification which kick-started my interest in all things gym related. Once I got to university, I started training in Team Hallam’s S&C suite. I can remember seeing all the athletes in a team session, with a great atmosphere and enjoying the session. I started interning at Hallam shortly after, mostly shadowing and then gradually took a few warm ups. From there it moved pretty fast; leading my own teams and being able to design my own programs. This lead to me having the opportunity to complete a 6-week internship at a Division 1 University in Malibu California; Pepperdine. Experiences like this just make it certain that S&C is the career I will continue to pursue and better myself in.

What is your philosophy for S&C training?

I have numerous aspects of my philosophy which I deem to be an important part of the way I coach. One of the key aspects of my coaching philosophy is that athletes must enjoy training (or at least not hate it). I believe enjoyment is the key in order to get the most from athletes (particularly at the university level). This will keep athletes turning up on time, attending every session and aiming to progress; because they enjoy it and take pride in it. Another aspect of my philosophy at this point is creating strong robust athletes that move well. This involves ensuring athletes can perform fundamental movement patterns and get strong doing them. This will hopefully keep them healthy and allow them to spend as much time on the pitch, court or track perfecting their sport.

 

Who are some of the main practitioners you recommend reading?

Like many S&C coaches progressing in the field at the moment, I am attracted to the gurus in the main stream. The likes of Michael Boyle, Eric Cressey, Brett Bartholomew, Charles Poliquin and Dan John are common google searches for myself. Although not always scientifically backed, I do occasional enjoy reading articles on Elite FTS and Juggernaut for some training/programming tips.

I am also largely interested in leadership books from leaders in different backgrounds. Recently I’ve read ‘How Navy SEALS Lead and Win’, although not directly related to S&C, the points discussed carry over extremely well.

 

 

What is your sporting background?

In school, I never really played much sport, just the odd PE lesson where we played a mixture of rounders, football or basketball. My first competitive sport was Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) which I started at 15 and continued to train until 19. In this time, I trained a mixture of BJJ, kickboxing and wrestling competing at a semi-professional level. Once my interest sparked in the gym, my motivation switched to strength sports. I have recently competed in a few local Strongman competitions and won Sheffield's U90kgs. I intend to make my way through Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting too, just to say I’ve done it! I still occasionally train Jiu Jitsu, and occasionally get the bug to compete again... but unfortunately there isn’t much room for an inflexible S&C coach that gets out of breath easy in the sport anymore!

 

 

What is your academic background?

In college, I completed my Level 3 PT and Level 3 Sport/Swedish Massage Qualifications. This was my first sport related qualification and since then have just completed my degree in Sport and Exercise Science. I am currently studying on an Applied Sport and Exercise Science Masters in which I will complete in 18 months. I intend to gain my UKSCA Accreditation in the next 12 months also.

  

 

What advice would you give up and coming practitioners who would like to be in your position?

My biggest advice is to try to experience as much as possible, which comes from saying yes to as many different opportunities as possible. This will mean sometimes just being a water boy, sometimes taking warm ups and even sometimes may mean covering a full session for the coach who is caught in traffic. If you never say yes to these opportunities, your CV will be lacking compared to the guy who is getting his teeth stuck into different situations. This will occasionally mean long, unpaid, anti-social hours. I would also advise getting out of your comfort zone; apply for numerous internships. My goals have always been to be S&C coach in either USA Collegiate Sport, UK University Sport or GB Olympic Sport. I have now experienced all of these at an intern level, which provides me with greater insight as to where I want to invest my time and energy.

  

 

What is your favourite aspect of working in Team Hallam?

Like many of the Graduate S&C coaches before me, I have progressed through the internship. Beginning at Junior Intern learning the ropes from a more experienced Lead S&C Coach. And gradually got given more and more responsibility until the position I am currently in. This position is a huge stepping stone for a young coach. Although money isn’t my main motivation, it is a big deal to be able to get paid to do something you love. It provides us to be able to adapt to the different teams we are involved with, which overall makes me a better coach.

 

I have to change the way I interact with every team, as they have different dynamics, cultures and physical needs. I obviously need to communicate with Men’s Rugby Union different to how I communicate with Netball. I also have to make sure my programming is individual to every team and athlete to ensure they get the most out of their Team Hallam S&C experience.

 

So, to sum up my favourite part of working at Team Hallam: Coaching A LOT! In an industry that is heavily reliant on research and science, quite often this attracts coaches that actually lack how to coach and focus 100% of their energy on Peer Review Journals. I believe this is the perfect role to learn how to coach, due to the number of diverse athletes we cater to.

 

 

Where would you like to be in 5 years?

In 5 years’ time, I would like to have completed my MSc, UKSCA and be progressing in the organisation I am in. I intend to experience lots of different facilities in my career so hopefully I will be in an environment I enjoy that offers me room to grow and not become stagnant and comfortable.