Elite sport often gets more attention, but youth training gives strength and conditioning coaches an earlier chance to build athletes’ competence and confidence. Kelli Brightwell specializes in youth development and brings more than a decade of sports training experience, including four years at Michael Johnson Performance. Brightwell defines peak height velocity as the period during which height increases fastest. She then explains why its timing can differ among teammates of the same age. So what should strength coaches test, and what do the results mean? The answer changes with each athlete’s maturity and training experience. Brightwell addresses the growth-spurt “awkward phase,” when familiar movement patterns can break down as an athlete adjusts to a changing body. She also considers how sport sampling can expand children’s range of physical skills and help them discover what they enjoy. Learn how maturation can affect movement, testing, and programming — and why young athletes need foundations before specialization.

This article is part of a continuing series of tactical strength and conditioning (TSAC) research reviews. It is designed to bring awareness to new research findings of relevance to tactical strength and conditioning communities.

Framing of the personal trainer-client relationship sets the stage for future success, and it all starts with the personal trainer’s approach. Learn how to give clients the right information at the right time, and in a way that will resonate with them.

High-Intensity Resistance and High-Impact Training and Bone Mineral Density—a Narrative Review: Part 1

This article recommends how to split the responsibilities of planning and executing the platoon physical training formation from the company commander’s echelon to the individual soldier level.

This article discusses current tactical and youth training literature into a 16-week JROTC strength and conditioning model for high school students. Visit NSCA online to learn more about athletic performance.

This article builds upon a previous article on the potential benefits personal trainers can offer clients by combining both cognitive and physical training.

This article discusses the importance and impact a qualified fitness professional on the fitness and readiness of soldiers for the United States Army.

This is the third and final article of a series on strength training practices for rowing and will focus on the energy systems development of rowing athletes.

Just as any decent coach would not have a client perform a heavy deadlift without first conducting a fitness or movement assessment, a potential facility owner should not move forward without assessing the state of their current business. This article explains three steps for conducting an assessment.