Planning and designing training programs for a new group of athletes (e.g., a new recruiting class or a new coaching job) can be problematic without a base level understanding of the athletes’ current skill levels. This article describes one system that can be used to determine an athlete's self-confidence on different exercises.
CoachesExercise ScienceProgram designstrength trainingstrength and conditioningprogram designself-confidenceSports Psychologyhs-coaching
Research on the benefits of using goals to increase athletic performance has shown that performance generally increases for athletes that use goals consistently. Learn how to move beyond generalities and see how a systematic goal setting approach can be paired with training athletes.
The “five Ss” of trainability and performance are critical periods of development that all youth strength and conditioning coaches should consider when creating a training program. Coaches should take advantage of each window to maximize a youth athlete’s potential and help ensure a long athletic career.
CoachesProgram designLTADyouth training guidelinesyouth athletic training
Looking for a job is an art and a skill. Not looking at it that way may cost a strength and conditioning coach a great opportunity. This article provides one experienced coach’s perspective on what is important as a strength and conditioning coach looks to climb the ladder or change positions in the profession.
CoachesOrganization and AdministrationProfessional Developmentcoaching careerhow to get a jobstrength and conditioning
This article provides an overview of how information collected through a performance-monitoring program can be used to assist in the development of a sliding sport talent identification program.
CoachesExercise TechniqueProgram designperiodizationsliding sport trainingBobsled training
From the 2021 NSCA’s Coaches Conference, Adam Feit, Coordinator of Physical and Mental Performance at Springfield College, discusses the benefits of satisfying athletes’ and coaches’ basic psychological needs. He also explains how behaviors can help or hinder performance and how to create an autonomy-supportive training and coaching environment.
CoachesProfessional DevelopmentBehaviorsMotivationSupportFeedbackAutonomy-Supportive Training
From the 2021 NSCA’s Coaches Conference, Matthew Ibrahim, Co-Owner, Director of Strength and Conditioning, and Internship Coordinator at TD Athletes Edge, discusses how to help athletes develop the skills necessary to build the brakes in the athletic development process. Other topics covered include how to create a better understanding of the transfer from training in the weight room to sport performance.
From the 2021 NSCA Coaches Conference, Dan Dalrymple, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for New Orleans Saints National Football League (NFL) team since 2006, shares wisdom from his experience in the field. This includes the realities of coaching in the NFL and how he used the setbacks of the pandemic to drive positive change and opportunities.
From the 2020 NSCA Alabama Virtual State Clinic, Christina Myers discusses the benefits, training considerations, and exercise selection factors for maximal strength training, as well as how these techniques improve sport performance.
Personal trainersCoachesProgram designMax StrengthNeurological AdaptationsStretch-Shortening CycleVelocitySpecificity
Hayley Legg, the NSCA Provincial Director for Saskatoon and senior lecturer at St. Mary’s University in London, presents on training the older adult. This includes considerations during the aging process, training implications across the spectrum, and the role of the strength and conditioning practitioner.
Personal trainersCoachesExercise ScienceProgram designClient Consultation|AssessmentBasic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition and Disorder or DiseaseInjury PreventionIndependenceOsteoporosisOsteopeniaSarcopeniaPostural Control