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Job Summary:
The Rehabilitation (Rehab) Strength & Conditioning Coach is responsible for bridging the gap between rehabilitation and performance within the St. Louis Cardinals player development system. This specialized position combines advanced strength and conditioning expertise with rehabilitation science to enhance player recovery, facilitate safe return-to-competition, and optimize performance. The role focuses on the critical transition phase from clinical rehabilitation to full performance readiness, collaborating with physical therapists, physicians, and performance staff to ensure seamless integration of injured players back into competitive baseball activities.
Job Duties:
- Rehabilitation Integration: Lead the transition from clinical rehabilitation to performance training for injured players in Jupiter, Florida.
- Movement Restoration: Develop and implement progressive loading protocols that bridge therapeutic exercise and individualized training
- Return-to-Competition Facilitation: Design and oversee graduated return-to-play programs using evidence-based progression criteria
- Performance Maintenance: Maintain fitness and performance capabilities during rehabilitation periods
- Energy System Development: Implement position-specific conditioning programs that address baseball-specific demands during rehab and return-to-play process
- Data Integration: Utilize objective metrics to guide rehabilitation progressions and return-to-play decisions
Additional Key Responsibilities:
- Partner with performance staff to design evidence-based transition programs that progress players from clinical rehabilitation through sport-specific training while monitoring recovery and coordinating care across the Jupiter complex
- Develop position-specific protocols progressing athletes through functional movements and game-simulated energy demands using objective criteria, collaborating on clearance decisions, monitoring loads, and creating maintenance programs for chronic conditions
- Design modified programs maintaining fitness while accommodating injury restrictions through alternative methods, creative solutions, and adapted protocols, collaborating with Mental Health & Performance staff for psychological support during recovery
- Conduct movement assessments identifying dysfunction and risk factors, make use of biomechanical analysis (when applicable) to design targeted interventions, implement pre-habilitation protocols, and collaborate on integrating preparation strategies into training programs
- Utilize sports science technologies monitoring training loads, recovery status, and readiness to implement workload progressions, track objective performance metrics, and provide data-driven recommendations for training modifications
- Proficiency with sports science technologies, velocity-based training, autoregulation strategies, heart rate variability analysis, video movement assessment, and nutritional periodization for recovery optimization
Education & Experience Required:
- Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, or related field
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
- Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC)
- Current CPR/AED certification and basic life support training
- Minimum 5 years of strength and conditioning experience in sports medicine or rehabilitation settings
- Minimum 3 years of experience collaborating with elite-level or professional athletes
- Experience collaborating with overhead athletes, preferably baseball players
Education & Experience Preferred:
- Master's degree Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, or related discipline
- Functional Movement Screen (FMS) certification
- Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) certification
- OnBase U hitting and pitching certifications
- Precision Nutrition certification
- Mental Health First Aid
- Background in managing complex return-to-competition cases for overhead athletes
- Bilingual capabilities (English/Spanish) strongly preferred
- Previous work in high-performance training centers or sports medicine clinics
- Bilingual capabilities (English/Spanish preferred) for communication with diverse player populations
- Understanding of professional baseball operations, travel demands, and scheduling constraints
