Creating a High Energy Coaching Session

The path to the top is not always linear. For Jill Costanza, it included returning to school and stops in collegiate and military performance before becoming Director of Sport Science and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach with the National Football League (NFL) Detroit Lions. Costanza describes today’s sport science landscape as a “Wild West,” where definitions differ by perspective. Her focus centers on assessing the athlete and program effectiveness against the demands of the game to identify holistic interventions. She outlines how intentional systems, a clear communication funnel, and data visualizations help athletes and stakeholders understand the “why,” build buy-in, and tap into competitiveness. Addressing common misconceptions, Costanza clarifies that elite athletes can still have foundational qualities that need rewiring. She emphasizes movement quality, proprioception, and breathing while adapting for individual needs and neurological fatigue. Learn how to build sport science systems, turn insights into action, and keep progressing on your professional path. Reach out to Jill by email at: jill.costanza@lions.nfl.net | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs Join the NSCA Football Special Interest Group (SIG) and explore 24 other specialized communities designed to support your development on the Special Interest Groups page.

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

Feeling uneasy about asking for a raise? Discover practical strategies to showcase your worth in strength & conditioning and build a solid case for better pay.

Ashley Jackson, Nicole Dabbss, and Kourtney Thomas have been very influential in each of their careers in the field of strength and conditioning and are a part of the executive council of the National Strength and Conditioning Associations (NSCA) Women’s Committee. They talk with NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about their journey in the field of strength and conditioning and how to teach and influence future coaches. Topics under discussion include: internships, experience, networking, mentorship, and current/ future roles of women in strength and conditioning.

This 2018 National Conference video features Scott Riewald in an overview of the 2018 USA Winter Olympic team and discusses how sport science support contributes to elite athlete performance. As well as the training, preparation, and expanding talent identification initiatives to influence performance for the Olympic Games.

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A problem facing personal trainers is the lack of awareness needed to work with clients who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This article aims to bring awareness of the symptoms of ADHD to personal trainers, discuss how they potentially affect training of various clients, and present programing considerations for training clients with ADHD.

According to Shawn Myszka, if we optimize on-field movement efficiency, we can maximize athletic performance. Shawn spoke during the NSCA's 2014 National Conference on the importance of mastering the fundamentals of movement. Don't just work to change strength characteristics, he says - change behavior because behavior becomes patterns.

This infographic describes the type of muscle activation three exercises elicited and their relationship to maximal sprinting performance.