training and conditioning
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 »
Why Olympic Athletes Use Blood Flow Restriction Training
Since the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, a few people have taken notice of the U.S. Olympians wearing exercise bands wrapped around their arms or legs. Outlets like the New York Times and Today.com have... more »
NSCA TV Home to 400+ On Demand Workout Videos
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is excited to announce the launch of a brand new video-streaming service: NSCA TV. The initial launch includes instant access to over 400 strength and conditioning and sport... 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 »
Increasing your Power Index for Strength & Conditioning
In the sporting world, the main reason for partaking in a strength and conditioning program is to provide a benefit to athletic performance. One of the critical features of a good strength and conditioning program... more »
Why the Mental Health of Top Performing Athletes is Even More Vulnerable
Those star athletes are worthy of our society’s adoration. They are never afraid of a little adversity, no, not as they stare down the competition with a gleam in their eye that says, “I know... more »
Study: Physical Activity Offers ‘Strong Protection’ from Worst COVID Outcomes
A recent study released this week shows that regular physical activity provides protection from the worst side effects of COVID-19 — hospitalization, intensive care admission, and, even, death. The study, conducted by Kaiser Permanente and... more »
5 Kettlebell Exercise to Incorporate into Your Workout
A recent article from BoxRox.com highlighted the benefits of incorporating kettlebell exercises into your training regimen. They are especially good at improving your grip, back, and shoulders, which is why Kettlebells are very popular in the... more »
Brian Hess, UNC Football Strength Coach, Shares his Philosophies
Brian Hess has been the head strength and conditioning coach for the North Carolina football program since 2019. Prior to arriving at Chapel Hill, Hess, after spending two years as the head football strength coach... more »
Tips to Improve Speed, Power, & Strength
Like so many Americans, you may be looking to step up your strength training routine as we approach the new year. A recent article from Stack.com outlined eight great tips to improve the training regimens... more »
Utilizing Crossover Sports in Athletic Training
Sports specialization for young athletes has become a controversial topic. Should young athletes devote all of their practice and game time to just one sport? There are some aspects of sports specialization that young athletes,... more »
4 Trends in Strength and Conditioning for 2021
The strength and conditioning business has always been about evolution. The primary goal of the field itself is to physically improve athletes and clients in some capacity. So, it only makes sense that exercises and... more »
Rest, Assured: The Value of Quality Rest
Today with the emphasis on safely developing and increasing strength and conditioning in athletes at all levels, less thought is put into rest periods. How long should rest periods be between sets, training sessions, and... more »
Strength Coach Roundtable Discussion
For so many strength coaches across the country, the fall season has brought a sense of familiarity to what was a very unfamiliar summer as the athletic industry — and everyone else — reacted to... more »
NSCA’s Depth-Drop Push-Ups from Developing Power
Push-ups are one of the most popular exercises among fitness nuts and top-notch athletes. The movement is highly effective for improving upper body pushing strength and endurance and can be done with no equipment. There... more »
Building Core Strength from Plank Movements
Anyone can hold a basic plank, but that gets boring and monotonous after some time. Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., shared that the plank and side plank are great foundations for incorporating other movements in a recent... more »
Food & Exercise: Recipe for a Healthy Life
Eating proper food and regularly exercising is a pair that goes hand-in-hand with one another. Though not as recognizable as other great pairings — peanut butter and jelly, ketchup and mustard, and milk and cereal... more »
Guide to Push-Pull Workouts
The push-pull workout is one that is very popular among bodybuilders and other athletes to maximize recovery time between workouts and create a balanced physique. This style of training structures workouts based on each muscles'... more »
Training Outside the Box
In 1963 the NFL’s first weight room appeared at the pre-season training camp of the San Diego Chargers. Always looking to stay ahead of the competition, head coach Sid Gillman brought in Alvin Roy from... more »
Study: HS Athletes Need More Recovery Time From Concussions
According to a new study from the Henry Ford Health System's Sports Medicine Research, high school athletes in multiple sports need more recovery time from concussions. The study was published in Orthopedics, a national peer-reviewed... more »
Guide to Maximizing Battle Ropes
Looking for a new total upper body exercise to incorporate into your strength and conditioning routine? Take an extra look at battle ropes and the benefits it can bring. Though they may look intimidating at... more »
While Sports Are Changing, Training Methods Should Stay the Same
Sports may look different from the emergence of COVID-19 last spring, but that doesn't mean the training methods for student-athletes have remained the same. While sports seasons have been postponed, canceled, or altered to some... more »
Recovering from a Back Injury
A back injury is not something to mess around with. Whether you're a student-athlete, professional player, or just a weekend warrior, suffering a back injury can be down-right debilitating. Surgery is always an option, depending... more »
Reducing Stress Fractures in Female College Distance Runners
First-year student-athletes show the greatest number of injuries and therefore are at the most at risk. Because of this, it is important to examine the transition period they undergo from high school to college. Not... more »
WA Strength Coach Fueling High School Athletes
A Washington state high school strength and conditioning coach is counting on more of the right calories to build strength in student high schools. Colby Heefner, the Oak Harbor High School strength coach, working through... more »
6 Body-Weight Exercises to Increase Multidirectional Movement
In strength and conditioning, most coaches and trainers identify functional movement exercises in six categories: squatting, hinging, pushing, pulling, rotating, and core stabilization. This set of exercises focuses on functional body-weight movements in all planes... more »
Enhancing Athletes’ Immune System Through Nutrition, Does It Work?
Whether it’s running faster, lifting heavier, or achieving optimal body composition, athletes are always seeking ways to improve performance. Recently, particularly with the events surrounding COVID-19, many have begun to reconsider a major contributor to... more »
Step by Step: The Rise of Motion Capture Technology Among Sports Healthcare Professionals
Motion capture technology — something usually associated with the studios and editing bays of Hollywood — is finding a comfortable home in the world of sports. Typically, high-tech cameras capture the motion of a subject... more »
How To Train Properly in the Heat
As we enter the dog days of summer, it's important to be mindful of the high heat and humidity. Generally speaking, those who enjoy outdoor workouts prefer conditions that involve cooler temperatures and low humidity.... more »
Benefits of High School and Youth Sports for Student-Athletes
The benefits of high school and youth sports have always been expressed by coaches, parents, and administrators. Now, however, there are quantifiable data that suggests there are considerable non-physical benefits of playing sports in addition... more »
