Strength and conditioning professionals should consider mental skills training when creating a training program to maximize performance. Developing mental skills is a very long and challenging process; however, the benefits are worth it. Utilizing these skills will put the athlete in a position to succeed in sport, as well as life.
Dietary fat has both long-term and short-term effects on an athlete and athletic performance. “Fat loading” as a strategy to improve athletic performance remains unproven.
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.
CoachesExercise ScienceProgram designOrganization and Administration
This excerpt from Developing Speed demonstrates a fun drill aimed to develop the ability to make a cut step in response to a stimulus and to accelerate from this direction change.
Learn how to design an effective nutrition coaching program for all types of athletes without supplements, support staff, or expensive training tables. In this session from the NSCA’s 2017 Coaches Conference, Adam Feit compares the awfulness- versus awesomeness-based nutrition coaching models.
Joe Eisenmann explains current strategies for implementing long-term athlete development (LTAD) in American football, in this session from the NSCA’s 2018 Coaches Conference
CoachesProgram designOrganization and Administration
Learn to identify and combat risk factors among high stress tactical personnel; how they affect performance, sleep, and recovery; and how to begin managing stress. In this session from the 2016 TSAC Annual Training, Jeff Nichols explains how to lay out a clear and concise process to evaluate stress and create a plan specific to each individual to combat the negative side effects of stress.
The “five Ss” of trainability and performance are critical periods of development that all youth strength and conditioning coaches should consider when creating a training program. Coaches should take advantage of each window to maximize a youth athlete’s potential and help ensure a long athletic career.
Women are at greater risk for body dissatisfaction and disordered eating than men with the goal of achieving top sport performance and physical condition. It is important to provide proper referrals for female athletes requiring nutritional guidance to improve their body composition or with a need to lose weight.