The framework of the athlete system is fragile, and thus susceptible to the “black swan” injury event. In this session from the 2016 NSCA National Conference, Greg Myer explains how to develop a training model focused on anti-fragility, by which athletes train to continuously regenerate and increase performance through the integration of random events, stressors, and volatility into their training regimen.

High chronic workloads have been shown to be associated with a reduced risk of non-contact, soft tissue injuries, while large spikes in acute training loads have been associated with an increased risk of these types of injury. Analyzing the acute:chronic workload ratio allows a coach to optimize training for the athlete and to continue in advancing fitness goals without overtraining.

Integrating unbalanced load training into a strength or hypertrophy phase, or any workout program, can add a tremendous amount of demand on the lateral aspects of the core to help the athlete develop a strong core. Using unbalanced load training may help produce increases in athleticism, balance, and motor coordination without sacrificing strength or explosiveness.

Biofeedback is a tool that not everyone knows about, yet many coaches and athletes could benefit from using it. This article will describe the psychophysiological principle, introduce biofeedback, and provide descriptions of two biofeedback modalities that may be useful for strength and conditioning professionals to improve performance.

In this video from the NSCAs National Conference 2012, Nick Winkleman discusses the use of periodization - its definition, considerations, using periodization profiles, and examples.

This article reviews the use of heart rate as a way to program cardiovascular exercise.

In this session from the 2015 TSAC Conference, Nick Barringer explores the roles of n-3 fatty acids and vitamin D in the body, and how insufficient levels of either can negatively affect performance.

Knowledge of metabolic rate can help athletes as well as health-conscious people improve their exercise performance or obtain the fat-to-lean-mass ratio optimal for their personal situations. Two examples of how this works follow.

Recent advances in research and human performance programs (HPP) has made it possible to learn more about the tactical athlete while creating enhanced methodologies and implementation. This review draws on the past three years of research focusing on strength and conditioning within military communities, exploring the current themes of research and the implications of future studies.

This article provides a personal perspective on the art of coaching that stems from acquired knowledge, education, and real-world application through professional sports experience from working in human performance.