Overview

This unit develops the advanced skills required to safely and effectively prepare physique athletes for competition. You’ll learn evidence-based approaches to contest preparation across bodybuilding and related aesthetic sports—covering nutritional periodisation, training adaptations, and body composition manipulation for both male and female competitors.

Contest preparation coaching carries significant responsibility. Athletes pursuing extreme leanness face real physiological and psychological risks. This unit equips you with the knowledge and practical experience to guide competitors through this process while prioritising their health and long-term wellbeing.

What you will learn

Male Competitor Preparation
Design comprehensive protocols for male physique athletes across categories requiring extreme leanness (e.g., Men’s Physique, Classic Physique, Bodybuilding) and less lean divisions. You’ll critically analyse the physiological requirements, apply current research, and develop strategies to mitigate health risks during aggressive body composition phases.

Female Competitor Preparation
Address the unique considerations for female competitors including hormonal and metabolic responses, reproductive health maintenance, and the Female Athlete Triad/RED-S. You’ll develop sex-specific protocols that account for menstrual cycle considerations and the distinct challenges women face during contest preparation.

Personal Application
Complete your own 8-12 week pre-preparation phase with biometric tracking and implement mock preparation strategies. This experiential component ensures you understand firsthand what your future clients will experience—both physiologically and psychologically.

Business & Service Delivery
Contest prep is a high-touch, premium service with extended timelines (16-32 weeks) and intensive client contact. You’ll design service delivery models, pricing structures, and client management systems appropriate to this specialised coaching niche.

Assessment
You’ll complete:
1. 2 x comprehensive case studies (1 male, 1 female—each covering one extreme leanness and one less lean category)

2. Personal pre-preparation phase with weekly documentation and reflective journal

3. Critical analysis comparing your experiential learning with theoretical models

4. Business model for contest preparation services

RPL Pathway

Already working as a contest preparation coach? You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

To qualify for RPL, you must demonstrate:

• Coaching experience with a minimum of 5 competitors
• 2 detailed competition preparation case studies that meet SNA’s assessment criteria
• Evidence of your ability to achieve appropriate pre-competition conditioning (within 10% of stage weight) while maintaining adequate energy availability

The RPL assessment evaluates your existing knowledge and practical experience against the unit’s performance and knowledge evidence requirements. If your portfolio meets the standard, you can complete this unit for a reduced fee.

Prerequisites

Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital (LLND) Assessment:
All applicants must complete an LLND assessment to ensure they possess the foundational skills necessary for the course.

Educational Background:
While a prior degree in nutrition, exercise science, or a related field is advantageous, it is not mandatory. The course is designed to accommodate individuals from diverse educational backgrounds, including those without formal qualifications in these areas.