Small college strength and conditioning coaches face a multitude of challenges when creating and implementing systematic individualized programs. In this session from the NSCA 2016 Coaches Conference, Josh Bullock—Strength and Conditioning Coach at Emory and Henry College—identifies the potential pitfalls to improving athletic performance at the small college level, and provides several solutions.

Tactical jobs are fast-paced, physically and psychologically intense, and failure can have tragic consequences, making it vital to train tactical athletes to perform better under stress.

The goal of this brief review is to describe what classifies as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and summarize the potential benefits for various populations: athletic, general, and clinical.

Exercise is an underutilized therapy for the treatment of cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression. While exercise shows more promise for the prevention, rather than the treatment, of Alzheimer’s disease, exercise therapy compares favorably to the most common treatments of depression (psychotherapy and antidepressants).

Learning to lunge correctly can strengthen the lower body musculature, improve core stability and balance, enhance hip flexibility, and increase functionality. There are a plethora of modifications and progressions to consider.

An appropriately designed program with elements of safe resistance training that focuses on the upper back and external shoulder rotators and open agility technique training may improve agility on the pickleball court, decrease the injury risk of older pickleball players, and increase the self-confidence of these individuals on the court and in daily life.

Three top personal trainers—Juan Carlos Santana, Robert Linkul, and Chat Williams—discuss “best practices” in the profession of personal training.

Colorado Springs, CO - National Strength and Conditioning Association announces 2014 Coach of the Year Awards. Winners include: Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach Joe Kenn, College Coach, Shannon Turley and Assistant Collegiate Coach, Caitlin Quinn.

Building athletes who are strong, healthy, and resilient requires more than sets and reps, starting with a shift in mindset. Christi Edson, Head of Performance for the Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), shares how she integrates strength and conditioning with sport science to sustain athlete health and performance. She reflects on the field’s evolution from the well-known “Bigger, Faster, Stronger” program to a training culture emphasizing resilience, active recovery, and durability. Drawing from her experience coaching high school athletes to NWSL professionals, Edson highlights the adaptability and creativity coaches need. Those qualities help her to develop athletes who can thrive through a demanding 11-month season. She details how tools like GPS, force plates, and velocity-based training sharpen communication and reshape expectations in the gym. Her story points coaches toward the future of athlete development: collaboration, precise load management, and long-term health as the foundation of strength. Connect with Christi on Instagram: @christiedson and LinkedIn: @christiana-edson | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs Read the article, “A Creative Mind in the Professional Development of a Strength and Conditioning Coach,” from NSCA Coach, 11(1), February 2024 — referenced in this episode’s return-to-play discussion. NSCA Members enjoy full publication access. Interested in bridging coaching and sport science? The Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS) credential can help you expand your qualifications, open new career paths, and strengthen cross-department collaboration.