Soldiers in today’s Army should be exposed to realistic and stressful training scenarios. Additionally, they should be educated on the physical, psychological, and cognitive effects of combat and fatigue. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (AROTC) cadets are an ideal training audience since they are already immersed in an academic environment.

Mentorship isn’t flawless — and that’s where its power lies. Erik Hernandez, Associate Director for Sports Performance – Olympic Sports at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, has built his career on turning imperfect scenarios into lasting lessons for athletes and young coaches alike. For over 14 years at UNC, he has guided lacrosse, volleyball, and golf, adapting his voice to each culture while holding firm to shared standards of accountability and growth. Hernandez streamlines training into a three-phase model — explosive, strength, and remedial — yet emphasizes that delivery and communication matter more than complexity. He reminds athletes, “modifications are part of progress,” linking health, recovery, and seasonal demands to long-term development. For interns and early-career coaches, his advice is clear: earn mentors by serving others, and learn from every scenario, even the imperfect ones. Hear how mentorship, adaptability, and athlete health point the way forward for stronger teams and longer careers. Reach out to Coach Hernandez on Instagram: @hernandezstrength or by email: ehhernan@email.unc.edu | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs Answer Bryan Mann’s “call to arms!” Many volunteer applications are open now through December 15. Step up and give back to your strength and conditioning community at NSCA.com/Volunteer.

This bundle includes videos of five of the best high school coaching sessions from the NSCA’s 2016 National Conference. If you could not attend the sessions live, this is the next best thing. CEU quiz available.

Strength coaches play a pivotal role in the performance of athletes. In this session from the 2016 NSCA Coaches Conference, Korrey Hammond explains the importance of diversity and inclusion for athletes at any level, as they are factors that should not be overlooked.

The squat is one of the most essential movements in life and performance. In this Bridge video, Mandy Nice goes over the proper progressions for individuals to successfully and safely perform the squat.

Dr. Bryan Mann, from the University of Missouri, discusses the efficacy of using the 225-lb bench press test for measuring maximal strength.

This video demonstrates optimal joint kinematics at the shoulder complex for overhead lifting tasks as well as a screening process to provide coaches with a tool to assess an athlete’s suitability for overhead lifting.

The CSCCa and NSCA have created consensus guidelines which recommend upper limits on the volume, intensity, and work:rest ratio during transition periods where athletes are more vulnerable.

This excerpt from Developing the Core briefly defines closed- and open-chain exercises and their respective roles in training.