Christina Rasnake, Director of Sport Science and Analytics at the University of Delaware, talks to the NSCA Coaching and Sport Science Program Manager, Eric McMahon, about the budding future of sport science in college athletics. Topics under discussion include the staffing of sport science initiatives, effective communication across departments, and how technology and wellness surveys can support actionable change in the coaching process. Find Christina on Twitter: @Coach_Raz26 | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or Twitter: @ericmcmahoncscs

From the 2021 NSCA Coaches Conference, Dan Dalrymple, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for New Orleans Saints National Football League (NFL) team since 2006, shares wisdom from his experience in the field. This includes the realities of coaching in the NFL and how he used the setbacks of the pandemic to drive positive change and opportunities.

The periodization of training is facilitated by a hierarchical structure that allows for several distinct interrelated levels that can be used in the planning process. Each level of the periodization process should be based on the training goals established for the athlete or team.

In this session from the 2016 NSCA Coaches Conference, Matthew Chandler explains how to implement the core lifts (cleans, snatches, squat variations, deadlift variations) for high school athletes throughout a multi–sport demographic. Coach Chandler explains adjustments that can be utilized with groups that have mixed ability levels in order to maximize the understanding and execution of each lift.

When working with athletes who play team sports, your main goal as a strength and conditioning coach is to ensure that your athletes arrive at a competitive peak in a predictable way, Dave Hamilton says. No matter the athlete's level - college or elite - training loads impact the ability to perform. As coaches, we need to remove the subjectivity and use monitoring tools that are effective.

Deena Kilpatrick, Joe Jones, and Jill Mills team up in this session from the 2019 NSCA Tactical Annual Training to discuss the various components of a comprehensive injury prevention program within a fire department. They also provide strategies to create and implement a comprehensive injury prevention program to better serve a multi-faceted approach for fire and rescue personnel.

Given the numerous approaches and variables which contribute to leadership effectiveness, it is unlikely any single approach is sufficient. This article briefly discusses the leadership approaches most commonly associated with team sports with the intent of providing a foundational understanding of leadership to strength and conditioning coaches.

Matt Krause, NSCA 2018 Professional Strength Coach of the Year and Director of Strength and Conditioning for the New York Yankees Major League Baseball (MLB) team, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about what he looks for in the hiring process, his path through strength and conditioning and the different jobs he had, and his involvement in the creation of the Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC) program.

Autumn Lockwood knows football. As the daughter of a collegiate football coach, she’s been attending games and “breathing football” since she was born. Now, she holds a highly coveted full-time position as an Associate Performance Coach for the National Football League (NFL) Philadelphia Eagles. But this was not always her plan. Follow her unique professional path, from a criminal justice major and aspiring Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) special agent to coaching at football’s highest level. Learn how the Philadelphia Eagles cultivate a championship culture through never-ending development, strategic staffing, and sport science initiatives. She recounts how mentorship, building a village, and networking enabled her successful career switch. Lockwood and McMahon also discuss coaching challenges and ways the NSCA can push the profession forward through diverse collaboration, uncomfortable conversations, and deeper in-person connections. They conclude by breaking down the calendar training year, key performance indicators, and athlete profiling in professional football. Connect with Autumn via Instagram: @autumnlockwood, LinkedIn: @autumn-lockwood, or email: alockwood@eagles.nfl.com | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs Love football? Join your fellow professionals in the NSCA Football Special Interest Group! This episode discusses the intangible rewards of volunteering, like opening career doors and making connections. Want to get involved? Check out NSCA.com/Volunteer for opportunities.

Sam Moore’s path into sport science is defined by taking risks and chasing meaningful questions. After a devastating knee injury as a collegiate athlete, Moore not only returned to compete, but she also discovered her calling in strength and conditioning. She recounts her coaching, sport science, and hybrid roles prior to leaving a full-time position to pursue her PhD at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Moore describes sport science as problem-solving and drawing evidence across disciplines to drive innovation. She discusses her research on female athlete availability in elite settings, including nuances like body composition, recovery, and high speed exposure in training. Moore advises young professionals to remain open-minded, pitch their ideal position if it does not exist, and go “all in”— knowing one decision does not define forever. Whether you are a coach or researcher, this episode delivers real-world insights on navigating your career with courage and curiosity. Connect with Sam on Instagram: @sammoorestrong and Twitter/X: @SamMooreStrong | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs