Somewhere along the road the NSCA forgot how to distinguish between right and wrong

professors gave me a bit of wistom that has stuck with me ever since: “The only way you Can change a person's opinion is if that opinion is based on ignorance.” If that individual's opinion doesn't change after hearing the facts, then there's nothing you can do. Some people prefer to remain stupid.

ESome coaches, for example, don't like the BFS program because they believe power cleans and plyometrics are dangerous. If they take us to task with a phone call or letter, we explain our position with a combination of Pesearch studies and testimonials. If they Still insist that these exercises are dangerous and as such our program doesn't cut it, well - they're entitled to their opinion. "ve always tried to take the high ground when it comes to individuals who posted these comments could be legally responsible dealing with those who bash our program by accepting the fact that for libel, possibly along with the organizations they represent, and also, you just can’t please everyone.

Then too, we are a business and not the NSCApassibis the'plblisher of these comments. everyone in this business is ethical. Sometimes, however, you have to plant your feet and take a stand. Such is the case with the online Of course understand that if the comments were true, they would not forum sponsored by the National Strength and Conditioning Associabe considered defamation. If NSCA members simply stated an opinion tion (NSCA). about not liking some aspect of BFS, even if that opinion were based on erroneous information, the matter wouldn’t be an issue. It would ‘The NSCA organization has been in existence for almost as long as just be an opinion.

However, this is not the case, as many of the facts BES. The NSCA was founded by Boyd Eply, and initially most of the Stated about us are simply not true. Let me give you some examples. members of the organization were strength coaches. Now, accord Here is one comment about BFS that appears on the NSCA Forum:

“ing to material published by their advertising department, less than ight percent of its members are strength coaches. One reason is the “,.- [read a big article in one of the BFS magazines that claimed that organization is expanding to other fields, a decision that has caused the half ROM box squatiwas the king of all exercises.” strength coaches to join other organizations that would service air needs better, such as the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Association.

Neyer has BFS magazine said that a limited-range box squat was the king of all exercises, and I ought to know. My first article for BFS was published in 1987; and I have read every issue since then from cover ‘The pressure to join the NSCA is tremendous. In fact, after I got the job to cover. Further, the last three major feature articles in BFS magazine as astrength coach forthe Air Force Academy, my supervisor told me about the box squat were written by me! The exact quote from the I needed to become certified by the NSCA. So I drove from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas, took their test, and got my certification and lishers) is “The parallel squat is the king of all exercises.”

This book earned the right to add a few more letters of the alphabet after my was first published in 1976 and is about to go into its 13th printing. name because | passed a multiple-choice test that I didn’t even have to study for, That was in 1987, and since then the NSCA and I have gotten Here’s another excerpt from a post on the NSCA Forum: along just fine. In fact, I even wrote an article for their journal and ed- “... [heard that it costs around 20k if you join their program and go ited two books by the former president of the NSCA.

BES also has gotten to one oftheir coaching seminars for a weekend for them to show you along with the NSCA and has often promoted many of their functions how to run their program and for an instructor to come to the school and rented booths at their conventions. But now our relationship has and teach the lifts. ” changed and attorneys are being consulted, all because the NSCA is being unreasonable.

Did I miss a recent corporate meeting where BFS increased the price of our clinics about 2,000 percent? This is nonsense. If it cost $20,000 On its website, the NSCA has established an “NSCA Forum” in which to join our program, BFS wouldn't be giving more than 300 clinics a members can share ideas on just about any topic related to strength year. and conditioning. However, many of the comments the NSCA allowed ils members to post about BFS are fact, and according to the attorneys | talked to, constitute defama- L"

THE PARALLEL SQUAT The King of All Lifts! by Dr:

I asked NSCA's media representative Rebecca Milot-Bradford and NSCA president Bill Allerheiligen if our president or our founder could respond to the false statements on the NSCA website. Both of these individuals told me that a BES representative would have to become a member of the NSCA (by paying alc . a fee, which is about $90). I then sent a letter of complaint to their ethics committee (by certified mail), but at the time of this writingI have yet to receive a response. A week after I sent the letter, however, | received correspondence from the NSCA’s advertising department inquiring if BES would be interested in placing an ad in one of its publications!

Is it too much to assume that because the NSCA is an academically-based organization, il would be interested in correcting factual errors in material it is responsible for publishing? Requiring BFS representatives to pay the NSCA to correct fallacious and misleading information presented on its website, in my opinion, is ludicrous and questions the credibility of the organization.

Credibility used to be a precious commodity; at BFS it still is For those who persist in clinging to ignorance despite the facts, well, my journalism teacher was right: some people never wise up. My teacher passed away about 10 years ago. If he were alive today, | doubt that he'd want to be a member of the NSCA The box squat segment in this video is absolutely awesome. Every coach an| athlete needs to see it! In addition, detailed instruction is given on the parallf squat and front squat. | guarantee every coach will be able to coach better an} every athlete will be able to squat better. ~ Dr. Greg Shepard, BFS Founder/CEO THE BEST WAY TO GET STARTED ON THE BFS PROGRAM!

Now Includes the BFS Clinic Exercise Instruction DVD! 1. BFS Clinic Exercise Instruction DVD.

From BFS Magazine — July/August 2005. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).