The purpose of this article is to review the physiological determinants of police work, provide the strength and conditioning professional with an overview of comm on constraints associated with training police officers, discuss the role of autoregulated training, and provide programming recommendations for training police officers around their patrol shifts.
TSAC FacilitatorsExercise TechniqueProgram designTesting and EvaluationProfessional Development
In this presentation from the NSCA's 2013 TSAC Conference, Police Commander Thor Eells discusses how to develop and implement a fitness culture across your whole department.
This article details an example assessment battery that could be used to measure the relative health and fitness of community service officers (CSO) within the context of similar populations.
Occupational police tests described in the literature can serve as indicators of the occupational performance of their employees. In addition, practitioners in charge of police training should develop and employ obstacle courses composed of critical work tasks, as they may be strongly related to tests of aerobic endurance, strength, muscular endurance, and agility.
The purpose of this article is to present normative data that has been previously collected for the 75PR, use the data to create informed training practices, and support the need for further research of this particular topic in law enforcement.
TSAC FacilitatorsProgram designTesting and Evaluation
Join Sgt. Ron Sheppard as he talks about physical fitness from the specialized tactical perspective - in this case, the Colorado Springs Police Department SWAT team. With more than 20 years experience, Sgt. Sheppard provides the operators' view of fitness and training.
TSAC FacilitatorsProgram designProfessional Development
This article outlines a potential learning course intended for students in undergraduate criminal justice and homeland security majors to improve their physical health literacy and health-related behaviors.
TSAC FacilitatorsExercise ScienceProgram designTesting and Evaluation
This article from TSAC 76 provides health program frameworks to enhance the well-being of public safety personnel. Visit us online to learn more about tactical fitness and performance.
TSAC FacilitatorsExercise ScienceProgram designOrganization and AdministrationTesting and EvaluationClient Consultation|AssessmentBasic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition, Disorder, or DiseaseProfessional Development
Want to break into tactical strength and conditioning? Start by understanding the physical and stress demands of tactical work. Whitney Tramel explains what coaches need to know before stepping into this space. Drawing on her experience across military, police, and fire settings, she outlines the training qualities tactical professionals need to stay ready. She also discusses the growing focus on “holistic health.” In her view, that means looking at the whole individual and supporting longevity across a demanding career. As Tactical Program Manager at the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a PhD candidate studying stress physiology, Tramel connects research with the realities of tactical coaching. She also addresses a side many coaches are not ready for: tactical athletes often trust their strength coach with conversations that reach far beyond training. Learn what the role requires, what coaches often miss, and how to enter the tactical field with clarity.
Reach out to Whitney by email: whitney.tramel@nsca.com | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs
Looking to enter the tactical space or keep growing in it?
Explore the Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator® (TSAC-F®) certification and join us at 2026 NSCA Tactical Annual Training in Orlando this August 17 – 20.