This article provides a list of items that affect the ability to develop and retain quality fire fitness trainers and provides possible solutions to common challenges for program managers that make decisions for a facility or agency.

There is no argument that periodization is successful, and that different models can be applied with success in different fashions. The question of how shift work really affects a periodized program—more specifically firefighter shift work—is less clear.

Tactical athletes, due to the nature of their jobs, may have sleeping problems (such as falling asleep and/or staying asleep) which is indicative of poor sleep quality. This article shares sleep hygiene strategies that can help tactical athletes achieve better rest.

Through a well-designed resistance training program, firefighter recruits can gain the movement skills, confidence to exercise, and foundational strength/physiological adaptations that they need for a long and healthy career.

In this session from the 2016 NSCA Coaches Conference, the Sports Science and Performance Manager for the Seattle Sounders Major League Soccer (MLS) team, David Tenney, discusses the “high performance model” in the American elite sports environment. Tenney delves into how this model impacts hierarchy and daily decision making, as well as the obstructions that many organizations face, how this model can help to drive decision making and optimize training strategies, and the different strategies that can help make this happen.

With the current rise in overweight individuals, obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes, the role of qualified personal trainers is absolutely crucial for creating a more active and healthy society.

It is important for tactical athletes to be aware of their fluid intake and hydration status when training for or performing job duties. This article explains several ways this can be accomplished.

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.

In this session from the 2016 NSCA Coaches Conference, Doug Bull addresses the multitude of problems faced by high school strength coaches every day. These include constraints on time and available space, training multisport athletes, dealing with the developmental level of the athlete, and ways to utilize a coaching staff to aid in running a successful program.

The ability of strength and conditioning professionals to bridge the gap between sports medicine and coaching is the focus of this session from the NSCA’s 2016 Coaches Conference. Coach Ted Perlak explains why coaches should take into account the “why” and the “how” more so than the “what.”

Jeff Connors, Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning at East Carolina University, shares insights regarding a successful and comprehensive training program that places emphasis on speed development. Originally presented at the NSCA 2016 Coaches Conference.

In this session from the 2016 NSCA Coaches Conference, Matthew Chandler explains how to implement the core lifts (cleans, snatches, squat variations, deadlift variations) for high school athletes throughout a multi–sport demographic. Coach Chandler explains adjustments that can be utilized with groups that have mixed ability levels in order to maximize the understanding and execution of each lift.

Small college strength and conditioning coaches face a multitude of challenges when creating and implementing systematic individualized programs. In this session from the NSCA 2016 Coaches Conference, Josh Bullock—Strength and Conditioning Coach at Emory and Henry College—identifies the potential pitfalls to improving athletic performance at the small college level, and provides several solutions.

See demonstrations of weightlifting derivatives for improved athletic performance. Mike Conroy from USAW and Doug Berninger from the NSCA explain coaching cues and corrections so that your athletes can benefit from training in a safe and time-effective manner.

With the average investment for personal training being $200 per client per month, professional personal trainers have the potential to earn over $100,000 a year if they apply themselves appropriately.

Unfortunately, injuries do occur during exercise, and the legal implications that follow them can be quite significant. Taking small, reasonable precautions at the onset of a new personal trainer-client relationship can stave off significant problems down the road.