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This is the NSCA’s Coaching Podcast, where strength and conditioning coaches share their experience, lessons learned, and advice about how to thrive in a highly competitive profession.

Join the 2026 NSCA Coaching for Impact Sports Performance Summit in Columbia, SC, Sept. 26. Build athlete readiness with recovery + sport science. Earn 0.8 CEUs

Mark Stephenson explains the systems of stress response for tactical personnel and the cognitive influence on decision-making and reaction time.

From the 2022 NSCA Tactical Annual Training, discuss trauma and the nervous system of tactical personnel and how coaches can be trauma-informed in the weight room

Anemia is a condition characterized by too few red blood cells, leading to diminished oxygen delivery, which can significantly impact exercise participation and athletic performance. The etiology of anemia is multifactorial. Some forms of anemia develop as a result of deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals and may be modifiable, whereas other types are inherited disorders. Although nonmodifiable, the latter may be managed with the assistance of trained medical professionals. This article will provide an overview of the pathophysiology associated with common forms of anemia and provide an introduction to diagnostic testing procedures and treatment options. Additionally, the signs and symptoms will be discussed to help strength and conditioning professionals recognize this potentially impactful condition. This article concludes with a discussion of the influence iron deficiency has on sports participation.

From the 2019 Tactical Annual Training, Rob Orr, co-lead of Bond University’s Tactical Research Unit, explains how the backs of tactical personnel can be compromised. He also details the systems that affect the back and how to construct programs to optimize physical conditioning and reconditioning.

This is the NSCA’s Coaching Podcast, where strength and conditioning coaches share their experience, lessons learned, and advice about how to thrive in a highly competitive profession.