strength & conditioning
How West Virginia Develops Football Players
The goal of the strength and conditioning program at West Virginia University is to provide our student-athletes with the highest physical and mental preparedness on the field of competition. My goal is for our football... more »
A strength coach’s contribution to an NFL Hall of Famer
It's what every strength coach strives for—watching the student-athletes they work with develop and maximize their athletic career and receive the type of recognition the athlete dreamed about. Kelly Neuhauser got to experience this recently,... more »
NHSSCA launches certification program
The National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) has introduced the High School Strength Coach Certification (HSSCC) Program, the first certification program specifically for high school strength & conditioning coaches. The announcement was made at... more »
How Kathy Wagner gets a 100% pass rate for candidates on the SCCC Exam
We would like to introduce our first Mentor Program Spotlight, Kathy Wagner. Coach Wagner shows an exceptional success rate in her mentor program: 100% of candidates that have mentored under her have passed the SCCC... more »
Researchers study mental impact on athletic performance
University of Birmingham researchers have found that after performing a mentally challenging task, individuals found physical exercise to be more difficult. This comes by way of a new study that asked 16 men and women... more »
NFL player helps AAU basketball team train
An NFL player is using his knowledge of what it takes to reach the next level to help a Florida AAU basketball team fulfill its dreams. Nelson Agholor, wide receiver for the New England Patriots,... more »
How to build speed and power in MMA athletes
MMA strength and conditioning training is a specialized form of training that combines a variety of exercises, drills, and techniques to help fighters reach peak physical performance. As the name implies, it involves strength and... more »
Dealing with Upper Arm Injuries
Injuries to the upper arm muscles and tendons are most common in men 30–50, but women may also experience them. If the tendon ruptures, you may feel a tearing sensation and actually hear a pop,... more »
What is Athletic Heart Syndrome?
Heart health and athletic endurance go hand-in-hand. “Exercise strengthens the heart muscle, enabling it to pump a greater volume of blood with each heartbeat,” said Dr. Deepak Bhatt, editor of the Harvard Heart Letter, in a... more »
The Importance of Plyometric Training for Runners
Plyometrics are fast, explosive jumping movements that help build muscle strength. Training your fast-twitch muscles to respond more quickly and powerfully is something that all runners will see benefits from. A recent story from RunnersWorld.com... more »
FitXR Launches Two Immersive VR Workout Classes
FitXR, the leading global VR fitness app, is furthering its quest of offering the most robust VR fitness content with the introduction of two new immersive workout studios - Sculpt and Combat. Sculpt is now... more »
Tennessee’s Wirth Wins NSCA Strength Coach of the Year Award
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) has announced that Tennessee Director of Olympic Sports Performance Dan Wirth is the organization's 2023 College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. "I am humbled and grateful... more »
Reviewing the Prevalence of Ankle Sprain Injuries
Everyone suffers an ankle sprain at one point or another. However, recent studies show that those who participate in sports or train regularly can expect a lower incidence of them. The study, entitled "The Incidence... more »
Gaining Buy-In & Support for your Strength & Conditioning Program
Being a high school strength & conditioning coach is one of the most rewarding careers a person can have. We have the opportunity to not only make young people healthier, stronger, and faster but also... more »
Training in All 3 Planes of Motion
Your movements can be categorized into three planes of motion: the sagittal (aka longitudinal), frontal (aka coronal), and transverse planes. In order to determine which plane of motion you’re moving in, imagine plates of glass... more »
2022 Strength Coaches Survey Results
Strength and conditioning coaches have two primary goals. The first is to improve athletic performance, which usually means improving athletes' speed, strength, and power through systematic training programs for both teams and individual athletes, often... more »
Insights for Powerlifting with a 2X IPF World Champion
To fit in with the current Issue theme of ‘Strength & Conditioning’, two-time IPF World Champion Andy Askow recently sat down to share some wisdom about his passion for both powerlifting and performance nutrition. Andy... more »
Blood Flow Restriction Training For Injured Athletes
Blood flow restriction training, also known as BFR or occlusion training, helps athletes recover from injury or surgery. It uses special equipment to safely prevent low-oxygen blood from leaving the targeted muscle. At the same... more »
The Benefits of Battle Ropes
Battle ropes offer benefits for people of all fitness levels. They’re simple to set up, simple to use, require minimal instruction and will raise your heart rate without having to go on these dull cardio... more »
Dryland Training Tips for the Active Swimmer
When training to become a top-flight swimmer, it's equally as important to train on the land as it is to train in the pool. A recent story from Swimming World Magazine gave a few dryland... more »
Indiana Initiative Aims to Unite Health Care Systems with Fitness Professionals
Exercise is Medicine (EIM) in Indiana, announced an initiative to bring together fitness professionals, healthcare systems, providers, and community resources to better integrate physical activity into American healthcare. A story from Club Industry highlighted the... more »
3 Ways to Build Athleticism in Basketball Players
Basketball season is right around the corner, and, if you haven't already, now is the perfect time to begin building your foundation of athleticism. A recent story from Stack.com highlighted three ways basketball players can... more »
5 Foods To Consider for a Muscle-Building Diet
While no one food will make you stronger, there are some foods that can aid in the process. In addition to muscle-building training, eating protein-rich, higher-calorie foods aids muscle growth. Your body then needs a... more »
Using the Pool in Strength Training
Many of our coaches used to laugh when I told them their athletes could benefit from a water workout. They were under the impression that a water workout meant simply splashing around and having fun... more »
Mexican Sports Medicine Specialists Adopt Multidisciplinary Approach
With the objective of supporting the athletes of the State of Mexico, the Department of Sciences Applied to Sports develops a physical and medical follow-up of athletes in their different stages. Jorge Luis Reynoso Barbosa,... more »
Four Best Exercises for Hip Mobility
Mobility exercises are the not-so-secret way to fast-track your fitness goals, whatever they are. Not only is mobility important for your overall physical health and longevity, but it also promotes muscle activation, decreases pain and... more »
The Core Benefits of Planking
Most people have heard of planking, but there are also plenty of misconceptions about what this move entails. Although there are lots of variations and modifications, a plank is an isometric exercise that targets the... more »
Study Suggests Exercise Will Not Offset a Poor Diet
New research has found that high levels of physical activity do not counteract the detrimental effects of a poor diet on mortality risk. The University of Sydney-led study found participants who had both high levels... more »
When to do Full-Body Workouts & Splits
A recent article from Livestrong.com explains when you should utilize full-body workouts and split up the muscle groups. Below is an excerpt from that Livestrong article. Which is better? That depends on three questions only... more »
Twenty Minutes of Daily Physical Activity Advised for Teens
Twenty minutes a day. That's all it takes to be a healthy young person, according to a recent study. Twenty minutes of daily vigorous physical activity (VPA) seems to be best for maximizing cardiorespiratory fitness... more »
