Join the 2026 NSCA Coaching for Impact Sports Performance Summit in Columbia, SC, Sept. 26. Build athlete readiness with recovery + sport science. Earn 0.8 CEUs

Join 2026 APTA & NSCA Return to Play Performance Summit in Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, for physical therapy & strength and conditioning education. Earn 0.8 CEUs

Choose your 2026 NSCA Fall Performance Summit from two focused strength and conditioning events. Earn 0.8 CEUs with expert continuing education.

Join the 2026 NSCA Exercise Techniques & Progressions Summit in Springfield, MA, on Sept. 26. Refine cues, progressions, and training adjustments. Earn 0.8 CEUs

You can find answers to the most frequently asked questions the NSCA receives here.

Join the 2026 NSCA Youth Strength & Conditioning Summit in St. Paul, MN, Sept. 26. Build movement skills, training systems, and lifelong strength. Earn 0.8 CEUs

Join the 2026 NSCA Power Sports Performance Summit in Plainfield, IN, Sept. 26. Build explosive qualities with cueing, loading, + sport transfer. Earn 0.8 CEUs

Learn, participate and network with colleagues in your state/province or region while earning CEUs. Hosted by the state, provincial and regional directors, these local events bring cutting-edge research and application to your backyard.

This article explores how personal trainers can enhance client experiences through effective coaching, professional etiquette, and adaptable programming strategies that foster trust and long-term success. Visit NSCA online to learn more about personal training and exercise programming.

Elite sport often gets more attention, but youth training gives strength and conditioning coaches an earlier chance to build athletes’ competence and confidence. Kelli Brightwell specializes in youth development and brings more than a decade of sports training experience, including four years at Michael Johnson Performance. Brightwell defines peak height velocity as the period during which height increases fastest. She then explains why its timing can differ among teammates of the same age. So what should strength coaches test, and what do the results mean? The answer changes with each athlete’s maturity and training experience. Brightwell addresses the growth-spurt “awkward phase,” when familiar movement patterns can break down as an athlete adjusts to a changing body. She also considers how sport sampling can expand children’s range of physical skills and help them discover what they enjoy. Learn how maturation can affect movement, testing, and programming — and why young athletes need foundations before specialization.