Caroline Palmer
Head Strength Coach
Mary Rutan STAR Sports Enhancement

Contact information:
Instagram/twitterX: @c_aroline_p

Email: cpstrength.2@gmail.com

1. How long have you been coaching/How long have you been a member of the NHSSCA?

I have been coaching for about 3 years now. I have been a member of the NHSSCA for roughly 3.5 years.

2. What is your educational and employment background?

I have been the Head Strength Coach at Mary Rutan STAR Sports Enhancement since I finished school at Ohio Northern University.

Before coaching, I was a self-employed business owner (Cosmetologist) for 8.5 years.

3. What certifications do you have?

I have my CSCS, USAW, and Nutrition Coaching Certifications

4. What training methods do you implement in your programs or what is your coaching philosophy?

My coaching philosophy at its core is a "holistic" approach. Whether it's my pro or my middle school kids, I will start literally from the ground up. I will watch how the feet move which leads up the chain and allows me to program (since I am more in the private sector) to the overall needs and goals of the athlete while being able to have a detailed coaching eye to implement support/supplemental/accessory exercises that will refine weaknesses and capitalize on strengths.   

5. What is one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you first started?

You don't have to know everything all at once to be a phenomenal coach. I stressed myself out with the immense, yet amazing types of training techniques and latest programming styles, that I had paralysis by analysis and felt unworthy and self-conscious about programming. It is important to continue to educate yourself, but to put the unnecessary burden of having to know everything about everything just to feel worthy of talking shop or coaching is not accurate.  

6. Do you have anything new or unique to your program that you would be willing to share? (Motivation techniques, assessments, training programs, technology, surveys,  communication methods, fundraising, etc.). 

Something that may seem "unique" would be to have my athletes assess training by how they feel while performing, I will simply ask "Do you feel like you have performed better after this training block or as we have been doing xyz?". Most of my athletes are comfortable enough with me and understand I am a no-fluff person, and will tell me straight. Obviously, I will be able to cut through the irresponsibility of not sleeping, no recovery, poor habits, and discern what I need to adjust or implement. But, overall it allows them to be fully involved in something they have fully invested in, and in the end, feel invested in.