The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is proud to announce the recipients of the organization’s 2025 Coach of the Year Awards

Learn, participate and network with colleagues at (location) while earning CEUs. Hosted by the state, provincial and regional directors, this local event brings cutting-edge research and application to your backyard.

A major goal of the Foundation is to maximize assets to increase grants and scholarships for NSCA members. Donations come from contributors and selected sponsors who are also dedicated to science and research. With the growth of the Foundation, the NSCA has the ability to give back to its membership, affirming its mission of being the worldwide authority on strength and conditioning, supporting and disseminating research-based knowledge and its practical application to improve athletic performance and fitness.

NSCA-Certified Personal Trainers® (NSCA-CPT)® are health/fitness professionals who use an individualized approach to train clients for the primary goal of improving their personal health and fitness. Learn more about becoming a certified personal trainer with the NSCA's CPT certification! Visit NSCA.com for information on personal trainer jobs, personal training certifications, personal trainer insurance and continuing education as you pursue one of the best personal trainer certifications.

Arm yourself with the latest anti-doping knowledge. The NSCA is partnering with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in order to equip strength and conditioning professionals with the latest in anti-doping education and a better understanding of the important role they play in keeping sports clean.

The Private Sector Coach of the Year Award, previously known as the Personal Trainer of the Year Award, recognizes an NSCA-certified professional working in the private sector who demonstrates exceptional impact in client outcomes, application of evidence-based practices, advocacy for the strength and conditioning profession, and significant contributions to the NSCA.

The NSCA Foundation is honored to announce the creation of the Markus Paul Memorial Scholarship.

A substantial body of literature has focused on weightlifting derivative lifts, primarily emphasizing the second pull phase because of its greater expression of force, velocity, and power output. The biomechanical resemblance of this phase to various athletic movements underscores the relevance of these derivatives in physical preparation across multiple sports. However, although the findings of these studies greatly enhance our understanding of their effectiveness in enhancing neuromuscular qualities, there remains a noticeable gap in the literature regarding the importance of the first pull phase, specifically within the sport of weightlifting. The aim of this review was to elucidate the relative importance of the first pull phase in snatch and clean & jerk performance and to explore the selection of specific pull derivative exercises that target the strength development of this phase of the lifts.

National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Fellows are an accomplished group of professionals whose frequent and sustained contributions to the profession have promoted the goals and activities of the NSCA. The purpose of the Fellowship is to promote excellence and leadership within the NSCA by recognizing high standards and extraordinary professional development.