McMaster Performance Summer Strength & Conditioning Female Coaching Internship

Published On: March 15, 2023Categories: Industry

This opportunity is a paid 18-week internship providing hands on experience in the field of Strength & Conditioning in a University athletic setting. Individual selected for this position will work 10-15 hours/week under the direction of lead performance coaches. The total compensation for this position is dependent on candidate as hours are flexible based on candidate needs and areas of interest.

The purpose of the Summer S&C internship program is to educate an up and coming coach in all aspects of sports performance coaching. Selected intern will assist with and help train varsity athletes from a wide range of sports, train professional, collegiate, national and provincial level athletes in small groups or in a one-on-one setting, as well as, conduct LTAD based strength & conditioning camps for youth athletes. The desired outcome of the internship program is to provide participants with the opportunity to be instructed and mentored by McMaster’s Lead Performance coaches to better prepare them with the tools necessary for employment in this increasingly competitive field.


Tasks include:
• Weekly educational seminars and tutorials administered by coaches, professors, and professionals in the field.
• Completing assigned projects based on weekly educational topics.
• Work as camp staff for the Marauder Sport Camps – Sport specific development
• Conduct team, group or individual training sessions, including but not limited to:
-preparation/warm-up and recovery sessions
-athlete return to play protocols
-biomechanical and physiological assessments
-movement and plyometric training sessions
-strength, power, and energy system development sessions
• Learn how to use and gain competence with typical assessment tools including: Force Plates, Timing Lights, Velocity/power tracking devices etc…
• Work alongside our staff in advancing McMaster Performance training systems
• Supervise weight room


Qualifications and skills required:
• Graduate of a University/College program in Kinesiology/Fitness Program.
• Strong interest and passion for Strength & Conditioning.
• Minimum 1-2 yrs experience in training & conditioning athletes.
• Highly motivated leader with strong coaching skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours including weekends (expect 20 hrs/week).
• Ability to work in a fast-paced athletic environment.
• First Aid CPR & AED.
• Criminal record check.

What truly sets our internship apart is where our previous staff are now. We have former interns pursuing Masters and PhDs in Strength & Conditioning, employed with various national teams, Canadian Sport Centre’s and pursuing internships with professional teams, private sector facilities and NCAA Universities.

This 4-month position begins on May 1st, 2023 and completes on Aug 25th, 2023. If you are interested in one of these positions, please email:

A. Cover letter outlining your career goals and why this internship will help you achieve those goals.

B. Up to date resume

To Ben Bahrami (Bahrami@mcmaster.ca)
By March 27th, 2023
Please note you will be responsible for providing your own housing, transportation, and food.
We will be responding by April 28 th , 2023 to let you know of the steps moving forward.
Good Luck!

Previous Intern Testimonials:
The McMaster Summer Internship was an invaluable experience, where I was able to learn from and collaborate with the extremely knowledgeable Strength and Conditioning Coaches, Sports Coaches and Athletes. This internship allowed me to push my boundaries and grow as an individual and professional. The High Performance team, provided me with a host of amazing opportunities to learn, develop, and refine my skill set. Everyone at McMaster was extremely welcoming and made my time there so much more enjoyable. I am truly grateful for all of the lessons learned and relationships formed. -Lyanne Martin, Inaugral Female Intern in 2022 – Western Physiotherapy


I had nothing but incredibly positive experiences during my summer internship at McMaster. The aspect that makes the McMaster internship unique is the incredible knowledge, experience, and willingness from the strength and conditioning Coaches. The McMaster internship provided not only the foundational strength and conditioning material taught within the curriculum, but presented constant opportunities to apply that knowledge in an elite training environment. As an intern, I was responsible for facilitating and assisting with fitness assessments, FMS/SFMA movement screens, reconditioning programs, and training for varsity athletes of various sports as well as youth, National, and professional athletes through Athlete’s Edge. The amount I learned and coaching experience I gained over the 4 months was paramount in providing me with the tools I needed to work in a high performance training atmosphere in the future. -Vicki Bendus, Strength and Conditioning Coach at Brock University


As a Kinesiology grad, strength and conditioning coach and more recently a CMCC grad (2015), I was looking for experience in the S&C setting before starting my career as a manual therapist and coach. The summer internship at Mac provided a valuable learning opportunity for me to follow a passion as a strength and conditioning coach. Working in an integrative approach I was able to work with high-level athletes coming off of various injuries needing intensive reconditioning to get them back to their sport. Learning under the great team at McMaster I was able to further understand the injury process, high level athletic development and the university sports setting to complement my future therapist and coaching roles.This internship has great potential to advance professionally, and Mac S&C has amazing resources to help you along the way. Overall, a very positive and encouraging experience I would highly recommend. Dr. Eric Nelson BA (Hons. Kin), DC, D. Acu, CSCS, SFMA

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