strength & conditioning
Building Speed in the Trenches
Life happens pretty fast when playing in the trenches. Massive bodies colliding through an explosive burst, jockeying for positioning for 50 to 100 snaps a game. In football, success and failure are delineated by a... more »
Tips for Integrating The Snatch and Clean & Jerk
A conversation I frequently have with fellow coaches and colleagues is whether or not weightlifting derivatives are worth the time they take to teach their athletes. While the answer (like most things in sports performance)... more »
Buccaneers Promote Maral Javadifar to Director of Rehab & Performance Coach
On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced that assistant strength & conditioning coach/physical therapist Maral Javadifar has been promoted to the newly-created position of Director of Rehabilitation and Performance Coach. Javadifar had spent three seasons... more »
How Much Should You Exercise to be Healthy?
According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the ideal exercise regimen balances cardiovascular work and strength training. Their guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity each week or vigorous-intensity aerobic activity for... more »
Study Finds Link Between Lack of Exercise & Depression
At one point or another, we've all heard that there's a positive correlation between strong physical health and mental health. Now we might have applicable evidence to support that statement. A recent report from MedicalXpress.com... more »
The Ins & Outs of Plyometrics Training
Plyometrics is a type of exercise training that uses the speed and force of different movements to build muscle power. Plyometrics training can improve your physical performance and ability to do different activities. Plyometrics can include... more »
Study: Muscle-Strengthening Activities May Lower Risk of Mortality
According to a recent study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, regular engagement in muscle-strengthening activities, such as resistance training, may lower the risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Using MEDLINE... more »
How to Master the Power Clean
The power clean is an explosive whole body movement used by weightlifters and athletes to develop strength and power. While it began as an essential Olympic weightlifting movement, the power clean has become a staple... more »
Increased Exercise Lowers ‘Preventable’ Deaths in Older Adults
Small increases in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among older adults in the United States prevent up to an estimated 275,000 deaths annually, a study published Monday JAMA Internal Medicine found. By adding 30 minutes per day of... more »
What You Need To Know About VO2 Max
If you exercise regularly, you probably keep track of how many minutes you work out, how many calories your burn, and your heart rate. But there’s another indicator that can help you improve your aerobic... more »
Building Both Muscle & Strength
Generally speaking, training to get strong involves low sets of heavy weights, while training to pack on muscle – also known as hypertrophy training – involves higher reps of light to moderate weight. A recent article... more »
Univ. of Pittsburgh ATC Donating Kidney to Colleague’s Child
A University of Pittsburgh athletic trainer is donating her kidney to save the life of a colleague's four-year-old son. Molly Trott has worked with the Panthers since 2018, primarily with the track and field program. Mary... more »
The Foundation for the Future Begins in the Weight Room
Winning starts in the weight room. We’ve all heard that from the mouth of a sports coach at one time or another. And, sure, there’s truth to that on the field. But once the clock... more »
Women in the Weight Room
Progress is a continual onward movement, unconcerned with what’s around it or what’s being said — only with advancing forward. And though progress is a never-ending process, it is important to look at what’s been... more »
Building Effective Soccer Strength & Conditioning Programs
Modern soccer is characterized by intense, large volume microcycles, which require very precise and non-intrusive methods to guide the soccer-specific development of the athletes. The following article contains exercises that are meant to provide aid... more »
Incorporating Complex Training in your Program
Unless you’re a racecar driver, equestrian athlete, or surfer, your sports skills are initiated by your feet putting force into the ground. Athletes operate through ground-based activities. They’re pushing against the ground or a firm... more »
6 Tips to Improve Leadership Qualities
It is often said that all problems inside organizations come down to issues in leadership. For this reason, it should become an area of study for all sports medicine and strength and conditioning professionals. Since... more »
Implementing a High-Performance Program During a Pandemic
The last year-plus has challenged us in many ways, both personally and professionally. As a strength and conditioning professional, your focus is always on developing your athletes and being with them daily to ensure they... more »
Yellow Jacket In-Season Speed Training
Coaches of all levels and all sports now realize the value of a well-run and organized in-season strength and conditioning program. This was not always the norm though. Many coaches and programs were reluctant to... more »
Strength & Conditioning Opening at Cape Breton
Cape Breton University (CBU) invites applications for the position of High-Performance Strength and Conditioning Coach. This is a full-time Limited Term position. The successful candidate will develop and deliver appropriate strength and conditioning sessions with... more »
5 Tips to Warm Up Effectively Before Workouts
To stay safe and get the most out of your workout you must always include a pre-workout warm up before you begin and then finish with a cool down to get your body back into... more »
NSCA Announces Tactical S&C Professional of the Year
The National Strength and Conditioning Association is proud to announce that Jay Dawes, Ph.D., CSCS,*D, NSCA-CPT,*D, TSAC-F,*D, FNSCA, has been selected as the NSCA’s Tactical Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year for 2021. Award... more »
Q&A with Reggie Scott, Rams’ VP of Sports Medicine & Performance
Reggie Scott is a name that is frequently said aloud within the walls of the Los Angeles Rams facilities, particularly over the two years. From injury recovery to strength and conditioning program implementation to COVID-19... more »
How Alabama Football Saw a 50% Decrease in Injuries
Alabama football is used to being the best. They are regular guests of the NCAA College Football Playoff, flirting as the top-ranked team year in and year out. The Tide gets its pick of five-star... more »
NSCA Announces 2021 Awards & Honorees
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is proud to announce this year’s recipients for the organization’s 2021 annual awards. These distinctive awards honor professionals around the world for outstanding achievement in their field. Each... more »
Texas Strength Coach Torre Becton Focusing on Details
A culture shift is occurring within the University of Texas football program, and it begins in the weight room. Head coach Steve Sarkisian's vision for that culture shift centers on attention to detail: whether that's... more »
The Power of Proper Breathing
You might not think of it initially, but breathing plays a vital role in how you think, feel, rest, and recover. Heck, it can even have an impact on your posture and movement. A recent... more »
Different Box Jumps to Improve Your Strength & Conditioning
Box Jumps workouts are great to train cardio, speed, and power output. Additionally, these workouts can strengthen your lower body and core, improve your balance, and encourage better posture and mechanics. Specifically, they help train... more »
A Guide to the Close Grip Dumbbell Press
Everyone loves the barbell bench press. But, like anything in life, repetition can bring stagnancy, and stagnancy stymies growth. A recent article on FitnessVolt.com offered a variation on the barbell bench press with the close... more »
Is Burnout Having a Negative Impact on Your Workouts?
Burnout. We've all felt it before to one degree or another in varying circumstances. Whether in the workplace or in the weight room, the burnout factor is real and can have real ramifications, like depression,... more »