You can’t talk about strength and conditioning without Coach Boyd Epley. Regarded as the “Godfather of Strength and Conditioning,” Epley laid the groundwork for the profession and later founded the NSCA in 1978. His 10 Husker Power Principles, developed at the University of Nebraska, remain a cornerstone in programming and formed the basis of sport-specific training. Emphasizing strength and power, Epley implemented testing and debunked the prevailing belief that weightlifting hindered speed. He recounts his journey with co-hosts Eric McMahon and Jon Jost, chronicling how a pole vault injury and exposure to bodybuilding led him to become the first collegiate strength and conditioning coach. What began with cement bars and paint cans evolved into a fully equipped weight room and impressive lifelong career. Additionally, Epley’s open-door policy — even with his fiercest competitors — helped drive the profession forward. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in strength and conditioning history. Explore the University of Nebraska’s Husker Power Principles discussed in this episode. Reach out to Coach Epley by email at boydepley@mac.com. Get in touch with Jon Jost at jonathan.jost@pepsico.com. Find Eric on Instagram @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn @ericmcmahoncscs. This special episode is brought to you in part by Gatorade Performance Partner. Learn more and join their community at GatoradePerformancePartner.com. Want to get involved as an NSCA Volunteer? Discover opportunities to lead and share your expertise at NSCA.com/Volunteer. Applications for many positions open in September and October!

The use of conditioning activities at maximal and sub-maximal intensities can increase subsequent sprint speed. This infographic describes how individuals’ responses can differ and suggestions to optimize post-activation potentiation (PAP) methods.

Learn about the anthropometric, kinematic, kinetic, and asymmetric variables that contribute to sprint performance, as well as how a coach can design effective speed development programs for male youth athletes.

Major League Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Texas Rangers, Eric McMahon, describes how he utilizes velocity-based training for professional baseball players and the benefits this technology brings to the players in this session from the NSCA’s 2019 Coaches Conference.

In this session from the NSCA’s 2017 TSAC Annual Training, Jeff Nichols teaches how to properly program for the Special Forces community, as well as common mistakes in doing so. He also explains the difference in programming for selection versus post-selection.

This article describes how to use dumbbell exercises in the training programs for football athletes. It includes sample programs for skill position athletes and big skill position athletes.

The goal of this article is to help strength and conditioning professionals properly educate clients on how protein can go a long way in assisting them in achieving their health and fitness goals.

Adam Feit, Coordinator of Physical and Mental Performance at Springfield College, discusses the use of psychological skills in collegiate strength and conditioning and shares his insight into how strength coaches are in an optimal position to incorporate more of these skills into the weight room.

Why are some behaviors so easy to change while others are so excruciatingly difficult? In this session from the 2015 NSCA Personal Trainers Conference, Annette Lang explains how to identify specific components that have contributed to success—or lack thereof—in changing behaviors and ultimately, habits.

It has been said that power lies within the transverse plane, but actually the frontal plane foot motion is what drives the transverse plane. In this session from the NSCA’s 2016 Personal Trainers Conference, Emily Splichal reviews frontal plane foot movements and how they are coupled with transverse plane rotations of the lower extremity.