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Supporting Athlete’s Transitions: Coaching Strategies to Enhance Athlete Well-Being during Athletic Retirement
October 6, 2025by Terrie Bradshaw, CSCS, and Tom Cormier, CSCS,*D, CSPS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, USAW
This article in NSCA Coach examines whether athletic coaches, educators, and institutions are adequately prepared to support athletes through athletic retirement. Visit NSCA online to learn more on LTAD and coaching strategies.
Coaches Program design Organization and Administration Testing and Evaluation Client Consultation|Assessment Safety Professional Development
NSCA Advocates to Raise the Certification Standards with NCAA
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Advocates to Raise the Certification Standards with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Kate Smith | Finding Success in College Athletics
What's behind enduring success at the highest level of college athletics? Kate Smith, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Michigan, shares insights from nearly 14 years of experience coaching multiple sports in a competitive collegiate environment. Smith emphasizes sustained excellence through adaptability, genuine curiosity, and openness to opportunities — even outside of athletics. Drawing on her private-sector experiences, she explains how diverse roles helped shape her flexible, athlete-centered philosophy. Smith candidly addresses current collegiate challenges, including navigating Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) distractions and adjusting motivational strategies across team cultures and generations. As a Certified Performance and Sport Scientist® (CPSS®), Smith highlights how integrating data-driven insights helps her create a more effective training environment. This expertise uniquely positions her to bridge athletics with academics, deepening collaboration on campus-wide performance initiatives. Learn how to implement practical strategies for keeping athletes engaged amidst external pressures, leverage performance data meaningfully, and continually refresh your coaching approach.
Connect with Kate via email at kannehay@umich.edu and on Instagram: @katehaycock | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs
Coaches Professional Development
Joint Statement to NCAA on Behalf of Division I Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Joint Statement from NSCA and CSCCa to NCAA on Behalf of Division 1 Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Considerations, Insights, and Methods from NCAA Division II Return-to-Play
October 8, 2026by Robert Warner, MS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, TSAC-F, RSCC
This article examines an NCAA Division II football return-to-play framework emphasizing injury management and recovery. Visit NSCA online to learn more about strength training in college sports.
Coaches Exercise Technique Program design Organization and Administration Testing and Evaluation Safety Basic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition, Disorder, or Disease Professional Development
NCAA Division I Certification Standard for Strength and Conditioning Coaches
On April 24, 2014, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) adopted a standard of certification for Division I strength and conditioning coaches. The article provides information and answers to frequently asked questions about the standard.
A Framework for Annual Planning and Programming for Division II Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Distance Runners
March 2, 2026by Mike Waller, PhD, USAW-2, CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, FNSCA, and Ian Bonder, MS, CSCS,*D, RSCC
This NSCA Coach article examines strength and conditioning strategies for collegiate distance runners to build performance for outdoor competition. Visit NSCA online to read about sport science.
Coaches Exercise Science Exercise Technique Program design Organization and Administration Testing and Evaluation Basic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition, Disorder, or Disease Professional Development
Optimizing Athletic Performance – The Role of Red and Infrared Light Therapy in NCAA Strength and Conditioning
June 3, 2025by Juan Gonzalez, PhD, John Osborne, Angel Huerta Mora, Sarah Martinez, Maria Quezada, And Leslie Cantu
This article will explore the wide-ranging benefits of photobiomodulation therapy (PBM), specifically in the context of NCAA athletes, and how it has the potential to become a vital tool.
Coaches Exercise Science Program design Testing and Evaluation Client Consultation|Assessment
Considering the Mental Health of Athletes
February 22, 2021by Dr Andrew D. Gillham, PhD, CSCS,*D and Jennifer Pirkl
The purpose of this article is to explore some phrases that strength and conditioning coaches may hear or behaviors they may witness, and provide some direction to identify which allied healthcare and performance professionals may need to get involved to best help the strength and conditioning coach and athlete elevate their performance.
Coaches Exercise Science Professional Development
Practical Methods for the Strength and Conditioning Coach to Develop Student-Athlete Leadership—Part I
June 20, 2018by Michael Kasales, MA, CSCS, RSCC, USAW-2, FMS
In the intercollegiate athletic setting, the strength and conditioning coach can play a role in the development of student-athlete leadership. For the strength and conditioning coach to be a positive contributor to this effort, he or she must have a clear understanding of their role, the role of the sport coach, and the interaction and relationship between the two.
Coaches Organization and Administration Professional Development
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