Athletes engage in training programs that develop physical and physiological attributes to improve performance over time. However, ensuring athletes are optimally prepared just before competition is also of utmost importance. Indeed, such approaches may often adopt 1 or more strategies in the days, hours, and minutes preceding competition, including exercise priming, active warmup, and/or postactivation performance enhancing (PAPE) activities. Despite a plethora of discrete research, such information seems poorly synthesized, making it difficult for coaches and athletes to implement optimal evidence based physical preparation approaches in many sporting contexts. This article aims to provide a scoping overview of evidence, facilitate discussion, and where possible, propose practical exercise based recommendations that may be useful leading up to (~48 hours–~1 minute) tasks with a short or prolonged endurance component or requiring repeated intermittent efforts (e.g., team based field sports). Well-timed and –designed activities can facilitate several aspects of physical performance, potentially improve athletes’ psychological state(s) and mental preparedness. The benefits of a warm-up are most well documented, but priming and PAPE strategies also warrant consideration. It is intended that the evidence and suggestions presented will be useful for strength and conditioning professionals preparing athletes for competition.

Join the 2026 NSCA Performance Science Integration Summit in Austin, TX, on March 28. Explore applied sport science research, train hands-on, and earn 0.8 CEUs.

Harness the Power of Data and Technology and Train Teams to New Heights with NSCA’s First Sport Science Clinic #NSCA3Ts

This fall, join top experts for an in-depth look into periodization. Designed for experienced practitioners, this virtual clinic will add to your skills and knowledge to implement high-level programs with your athletes.

Keep up-to-date on National Strength and Conditioning Events, clinics, and conferences.

Access the video collection for the 2019 Perform Better 3-Day Functional Summit Live Stream

Join the 2026 NSCA Training Prescriptions for Overhead Athletes Summit in San Diego on March 28. Learn advanced biomechanics, train hands-on, and earn 0.8 CEUs.

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