For emerging athletes to move properly and develop athletic skills, they must first develop proficiency in fundamental motor skills. The ABCs of athleticism, therefore, must reflect the development of fundamental motor skills first, and specific athletic skills second.
Personal trainersCoachesExercise TechniqueProgram designLTADmotor skills developmentlong-term athletic developmenths-coaching
Although most resources on program design review the foundational scientific principles of training, they often fail to provide practical strategies that strength and conditioning professionals need in order to apply these principles successfully. To help bridge the gap between science and application, this article provides a simple and practical, step-by-step system for applying the scientific principles of training into the program design process.
Personal trainersExercise ScienceProgram designstrength and conditioningexercise sciencepersonal trainingprogram design
Join the 2026 NSCA Training Prescriptions for Overhead Athletes Summit in San Diego on March 28. Learn advanced biomechanics, train hands-on, and earn 0.8 CEUs.
This article is intended to provide an understanding of the demands of football from a bioenergetic perspective and provides a framework in which strength and conditioning professionals can design conditioning plans that focus on preparing athletes for competition.
This second article of a two-part series continues the discussion of long-term athletic development (LTAD). This article provides practical application of the LTAD principles by examining two sample programs.
CoachesNutritionProgram designOrganization and AdministrationLTADLong Term Athletic DevelopmentYouth TrainingYouth SportsProgram DesignPeak Height Velocityhs-coaching
This excerpt from Developing Agility and Quickness provides a needs analysis for field hockey and possible program design options for optimal performance outcomes.
CoachesProgram designField HockeyAgilityChange of DirectionQuicknessSpeed
Strength and conditioning coaches who systematically progress specific training variables, including games, can help youth improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.
CoachesExercise TechniqueProgram designyouth training guidelinesyouth fitness trainingYouth athletic training
Nearly all fitness professionals are forced to address low back pain (LBP) to some extent, regardless of the age or population with which they work. The purpose of this article is to shed light on contemporary research surrounding LBP.
Personal trainersProgram designMobilityLower Back PainMobility for Lower BackStabilityStability for Lower Back
This article sets out to address and dispel these myths, offering evidence-based insights into the significance, safety, and multifaceted benefits of strength training for youth.
Personal trainersExercise ScienceProgram designProfessional DevelopmentYouth TrainingLTADGrowthFlexibilitySkill Development