NSCA’s Coaching Podcast, Episode 18: Ashley Jones

Rugby strength and conditioning coach Ashley Jones talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about early involvement in the NSCA, working in professional sports, why it is important to write as a strength and conditioning coach, building your network, and avoiding burnout.

Ashley Jones, MSc, CSCS, RSCC*E, is a rugby strength and conditioning coach who has worked with the elite of the game. He was involved with the physical preparation of the Canterbury Crusaders (Super Rugby competition), New Zealand All Blacks (New Zealand National Rugby Union), Australian Wallabies (Australian National Rugby Union), Edinburgh Rugby (Pro14) and Scotland National Rugby Union teams. He was awarded the NSCA Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year for 2016 and holds the Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach® Emeritus (RSCC*E), recognizing over 20 years of professional coaching. 

Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfield

"First and foremost you’ve got to train yourself.” 6:07

“I’d like a young coach to have some competition experience in either powerlifting or weightlifting to understand the planning and processes going through it.” 6:32

“It’s also coming down to the ability to talk to people and communicate and organize them.” 7:41

“Experience, certification, and personality, that’s basically going to make a difference every day they walk in the weight room.” 7:57

“For me, writing [for websites like EliteFTS.com] is all about sharing information.” 8:48

“Developing other people makes you feel better about yourself in the process.” 9:42

“It’s extremely important to get to conferences.” 11:18

“It’s a great way of improving your network by standing around and talking to people.” 11:38

“My goals/vison for my athletes is process driven and outcome based.” 13:53

“We might have 47 different ways to squat.” 15:12

“In a contact sport like rugby, there’s always going to be people banged up, so we’ve got to find options along the way.” 15:22

“I think people who don’t train are more open to gimmicks than those who actually do train.” 20:40

Book – Legacy, about New Zealand All Blacks philosophy. 24:11

“Character will always find a way to win, lack of character will always find a way to lose and take shortcuts and cheat the system.” 24:33

“I want people that are working for the organization to be 100% there for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back of it.” 24:44

“Knowledge I can teach—character is formed long before I’m ever going to meet anyone.” 25:04

“I think the art of strength and conditioning is compromise.” 26:10

“Meditation is very important [for coaches].” 30:48

Reporting Errors: To report errors in a podcast episode requiring correction or clarification, email the editor at publications@nsca.com or write to NSCA, attn: Publications Dept., 1885 Bob Johnson Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80906. Your letter should be clearly marked as a letter of complaint. Please (a) identify in writing the precise factual errors in the published podcast episode (every false, factual assertion allegedly contained therein), (b) explain with specificity what the true facts are, and (c) include your full name and contact information.