Join the 2026 NSCA Athleticism for Life Summit in Eugene, OR, on March 28. Explore athletic development for lasting performance, learn hands-on, + earn 0.8 CEUs

Joe Denk, a strength and conditioning instructor for the Navy SHAPE Program, discusses ways to integrate autoregulatory training and recovery systems into your training programs.

Nutrition and dietary intake are key factors for exercise and sport performance. While a substantial body of research highlights the impact of nutrition on exercise, many dietary and nutrient recommendations are based on research studies only conducted in men. However, the distinct physiological, neurological, and hormonal changes across a woman’s life cycle significantly affect nutritional needs. This narrative review explores key recommendations for calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and select supplements, highlighting the absence of sex-specific guidelines in current dietary frameworks for strength and conditioning female athletes. The review synthesizes current literature to provide practical guidance for coaches, sport dietitians, and health practitioners to optimize both performance and health outcomes for female athletes.

Expectations for strength and conditioning coaches now extend far beyond the weight room. Athletes and sport coaches demand better data, deeper insight, and stronger performance. Faith Brown, Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning at George Mason University, supports women’s basketball and volleyball while collaborating with the Patriot Performance Lab. Brown describes balancing teams, testing, and athlete monitoring as a “circus act.” At the heart of her coaching is one goal: be the coach she wishes she had as a college track athlete. She demonstrates ways strength and conditioning coaches can contribute as scientists, creating impact and value outside the weight room walls. Brown shares how GPS, heart rate monitoring, and force plates support workload monitoring. However, she believes that technology should only be used when it answers a real question. Learn how to turn data into better training decisions, translate sport science so sport coaches buy in, and reach out to other coaches to refine your program. Connect with Faith on Instagram: @faithsabrown, LinkedIn: @faith-brown, or by email: fbrown20@gmu.edu | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs From the Episode: Explore NSCA’s Essentials of Sport Science, a foundational text defining the field and the role of sport scientists in high-performance environments. It also supports preparation for the Certified Performance and Sport Scientist® (CPSS®) certification exam.

Held annually, NSCA Conferences are an exceptional way to learn the latest research, techniques, and breakthrough performance methods used by top professionals around the world. Learn from the best and grow your network! All of our conferences provide CSCS® and NSCA-CPT® Continuing Education Unit (CEU) opportunities.

Learn how to prep for your NSCA-CPT® exam. Explore study timelines, optional NSCA Exam Prep resources, and community support through our clinics and Prep Group.

Explore NSCA professional development groups, access member resources, and contribute educational content to share knowledge and advance your career.

Submit your social media content to the NSCA. Share strength and conditioning insights, photos, or and videos for potential feature on NSCA social media channels.

The All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award program recognize those collegiate and high school athletes whose athletic accomplishments reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning.

Explore Orlando during 2026 NSCA Tactical Annual Training. History, food, entertainment, and family-friendly attractions add more value while you earn 2.0 CEUs.