Colorado Springs, CO – The National Strength and Conditioning Association is proud to announce that Jay Dawes, PhD, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, TSAC-F,*D, FNSCA, has been selected as the NSCA’s Tactical Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year for 2021. Award winners are selected by a volunteer committee, the NSCA’s Awards Taskforce, who determine the winner based on their contributions to the NSCA and their community, and whose influential contributions to the field result in its advancement in a measurable way that exceeds the outcomes achieved by others.

This consensus statement provides specific conditioning recommendations with the intent of ending conditioning-related morbidity and deaths of secondary school athletes. Most deaths in sports are preventable; our charge is to meet this expectation.

Knowing when to train and how much time to devote to training each of the three energy systems is an important ingredient of success in endurance sports. This knowledge is also reflected in a well-designed and scientifically-based training plan.

Matthew Van Dyke, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Denver, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about professional development, working as part of a comprehensive sports performance team, and developing additional knowledge in the field.

The NSCA Jerry Martin Strength and Conditioning Scholarship Fund provides support to students planning to pursue careers as strength coaches. Named in honor of Coach Jerry Martin, longtime strength coach and recipient of the NSCA’s 2015 Boyd Epley Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Jerry Martin Strength and Conditioning Scholarship Fund was created in order to support NSCA members who are in college and intend to pursue a career in strength and conditioning coaching.

Concussion is a concerning injury and recovery can last days, weeks, or even months. Becoming familiar with post-concussion symptoms and the ensuing health-related sequelae is essential for those aiming to optimize the physical performance of tactical athletes.

During the initial interview, the personal trainer and client assess compatibility, develop goals, and establish a client-trainer agreement.

This column from the TSAC Report explores the impact of physical fitness and cardiovascular disease risk factors among firefighters and law enforcement officers. Visit NSCA online to learn more about tactical fitness.

This article discusses the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) scales and how to educate older clients to utilize them, as well as how to monitor and safely progress their training intensity.