"How can we practically, meaningfully and positively affect communication, leadership, and motivation for our staff, our athletes, and our teams?" Tim Wakeham strives to answer this question during this lecture from the 2015 NSCA Coaches Conference.

For Keith Swift, coaching is completely effort based, but it starts with camaraderie and education. As Director of Strength and Conditioning at Wofford College, his philosophy is clear: educate, heal, and enhance. While playing collegiate football and studying exercise science, Swift learned early to question the “why” behind training and encourages his student-athletes to do the same. At an academically rigorous institution, his educational focus fits right in, fostering curiosity, technical precision, and peer coaching. Swift shares how his experiences across professional baseball, the private sector, and collegiate programs each shaped his foundation while making it his own. Amid collegiate challenges — from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer portal to the growing authority of student-athletes — Swift holds firm that “there is no substitute for hard work.” His goal is simple: help student-athletes leave with both a degree and a championship ring, setting them up for success in sport and life. Reach out to Coach Swift on Instagram: @worqueowt and @wofford_strength, Twitter/X: @CoachSwift93, LinkedIn: @keithswift, or by email: swiftkd@wofford.edu | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs Discover how salaries have evolved across collegiate athletics and other work settings in strength and conditioning in the 2025 NSCA Salary Survey at NSCA.com/Salary.

Power of Progressions

David Crump describes strategies on client retention and how to make memorable experiences for your client as a personal trainer.

This session from the NSCA’s 2015 TSAC Annual Training provide examples of how different agencies (i.e., fire, military, and police) have implemented legally defensible fitness tests. Previous experiences will be shared as well as general recommendations on how to implement a scientifically-based testing battery.

Studies support the use of kettlebells for improving power, although evidence for using them to improve strength and aerobic fitness is still equivocal. Studies investigating the biomechanical properties of kettlebell training have been fruitful, and it may be useful for developing sprint running performance and for injury prevention.

Those who are in key decision-making positions should understand the importance of proper research, validation, and implementation procedures when developing physical fitness standards.

This article is part of a continuing series on practical, evidence-based approaches to reducing the risk of injury while developing tactical strength and conditioning.

Joe Kenn, MA, CSCS,*D, RSCC, spoke at the NSCA's 2012 National Conference choosing the appropriate exercises to develop athletes and design programs.

Tex McQuilkin, Director of Training and Education at Power Athlete talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about Coach McQuilkin’s work at power athlete, his athletic background, and his start into Strength and Conditioning. Topics under discussion include: Power Athletes education program, Coach McQuilkin’s experiences working with athletes, his GA position,