August 5, 2019by Ryan DiPanfilo, ATC/L, CSCS, Steven Candelaria, CSCS, RSCC, Daniel Fifer, CSCS, Michael Locasto, CSCS, RSCC, Derek Somerville, CSCS, Matthew Tenney, CSCS, RSCC, and Nate Shaw, CSCS, RSCC
Gain a thorough understanding of thoracic spine anatomy, the causes and effects of limited thoracic mobility, and the diverse strategies that may enhance thoracic mobility from the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Baseball (MLB) Strength and Conditioning Team.
Boyd Epley, founder of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and one of the most decorated strength coaches of all time, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about how the NSCA was founded, how Coach Epley talked Nebraska into letting him weight train all football athletes (most of whom never lifted before), and growing the profession for female strength and conditioning coaches.
This article will review available information about pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy and practical applications that could be adopted by strength and conditioning coaches.
Want to break into tactical strength and conditioning? Start by understanding the physical and stress demands of tactical work. Whitney Tramel explains what coaches need to know before stepping into this space. Drawing on her experience across military, police, and fire settings, she outlines the training qualities tactical professionals need to stay ready. She also discusses the growing focus on “holistic health.” In her view, that means looking at the whole individual and supporting longevity across a demanding career. As Tactical Program Manager at the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a PhD candidate studying stress physiology, Tramel connects research with the realities of tactical coaching. She also addresses a side many coaches are not ready for: tactical athletes often trust their strength coach with conversations that reach far beyond training. Learn what the role requires, what coaches often miss, and how to enter the tactical field with clarity.
Reach out to Whitney by email: whitney.tramel@nsca.com | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs
Looking to enter the tactical space or keep growing in it?
Explore the Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator® (TSAC-F®) certification and join us at 2026 NSCA Tactical Annual Training in Orlando this August 17 – 20.
When considering applying advanced methods to affect and augment maximal power output, this excerpt from Developing Power explains three key points to consider.
Personal trainersTSAC FacilitatorsCoachesExercise TechniqueProgram design
This article discusses how suspension-based resistance training may help develop the stability and muscular endurance in the shoulder joint needed to decrease the risk of shoulder injuries as a result of the demands of firefighting.
This article will explain the interference effect and provide a rationale for why low-intensity steady-state (LISS) cardiovascular training may be a useful tool for those interested in improving their body composition.
This excerpt from Strength Training, Second Edition provides insight into how resistance bands and cords can be used for a variety of training methods.
Personal trainersTSAC FacilitatorsCoachesProgram design
This excerpt from NSCA's Guide to Tests and Assessments briefly discusses the method behind a lactate threshold test and the pretest considerations one might take prior to this test.
Personal trainersTSAC FacilitatorsCoachesTesting and Evaluation