Performance

Currently, NASM has released an updated version of the Essentials of Sports Performance Training course and I had a chance to sit down with Scott Lucett MA, Director of Education for NASM, and talk about what's new in the world of sports performance education. Here's an inside access to NASM's innovative credential. More...

Finding ways to challenge your clients isn’t always easy. Sometimes professionals have to find creative ways to motivate clients. If you are not seeing the results you have anticipated from your client’s fitness routine, change things up a bit and give them a cardio exercise that is fun, challenging, and creates amazing results. More...

Running is an excellent cardiovascular exercise, as well as an effective method of staying healthy. But there are certain risks involved which need to be addressed in order to prevent injury. Running injuries are primarily caused by overuse, due to poor conditioning and training errors. However, health and fitness professionals can aid in the prevention of over-use injuries by applying a properly planned flexibility program. More...

Sometimes the real world dictates a less-than-optimal environment for an ideal flexibility and warm-up routine. More...

Speed, agility, and quickness (SAQ) training are too often associated with sports and other physically demanding activities. Upon closer observation we miss the everyday events and activities that can greatly benefit from SAQ training. More...

The thrill of the lights dimming, dancers lined-up, and the crowd on their feet as the home team waits to run out of the tunnel must be exhilarating. For most, we think being a part of a multi-million dollar sports team is a glamorous job. And let’s face it, we are sure that being a part of a high-profile team has its perks. More...

The word core has become a buzzword in the sport of golf in this day and age: media, agents, swing coaches, and fitness professionals reference the core in conjunction with the golf swing day in and day out. Unfortunately, questions such as what is the core, why is the core important to the golf swing, and how do you train the core for the golf swing go unanswered. More...

It is generally accepted that athletic performance is greatly enhanced through the use of strength and power training. The jury is still out, however, on whether stabilization forms of training such as balance have any effect on athletic performance. Many people argue that balance training is accomplished with sport specific drills within a practice session such as agility drills during American football or soccer practice or during skating drills for hockey. Depending on your definition of balance, this type of statement definitely has some truth to it, but what is the definition of balance and is there viability to balance training claims for performance enhancement? More...

The benefit of stretching before exercise has undergone scrutiny in the past few years. Previous research has demonstrated reduction in force and power deficits from 5 to 30 percent using maximal stretch. More...

Various techniques are utilized by athletes during the jump landing. The most popular consist of a bounce drop jump and a countermovement drop jump. More...

Previous research has shown that stretching may decrease strength and power prior. However, even with this evidence, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) have position statements concluding that stretching both before and after competition are acceptable practice. More...

The drop jump (DJ) is a commonly used method to train or assess the stretch-shortening cycle performance of the neuromuscular system. When used for training, it is typically combined with weight (or resistance) training to enhance explosive power. More...

Female athletes have been shown to be at higher risk for sustaining non-contact ACL injuries than males. One difference between the sexes is lower extremity malalignment which is related to inefficient neuromuscular control strategies. More...

The development of leg power and athletic performance has been a focus of coaches and researchers over the past few decades. Plyometric training is often the method of choice, but sprint running may represent a new way to develop leg extensor strength and power. More...

The development of leg power and athletic performance has been a focus of coaches and researchers over the past few decades. Plyometric training is often the method of choice, but sprint running may represent a new way to develop leg extensor strength and power. More...

Athletes have used various resistive training methods over the years to develop their athletic performance. These methods typically fall into three categories: 1) traditional weight training, utilizing heavy loads, 2) plyometric training, using acceleration and deceleration of the body as the training load, and 3) dynamic weight training using a load that maximizes mechanical power output. More...

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in muscle size, muscle architecture, strength, and sprint / jump performances of concurrently trained athletes after different five-week training programs. More...

Soccer is a sport that consists of intermittent bouts of high intensity exercise intermixed with longer periods of moderate intensity exercise. Training to increase speed, agility, and quickness (SAQ) seems to be an effective way to improve conditioning for an intermittent sport like soccer. More...

The development of leg power and athletic performance has been a focus of coaches and researchers over the past few decades. Plyometric training is often the method of choice, but sprint running may represent a new way to develop leg extensor strength and power. More...

Numerous sports require athletes to sprint and perform various change of direction movements. Many athletes are fast sprinters and can change direction very quickly. However, training for one component may not be beneficial for the other component. More...

Soccer players can cover about 10 km during a match which includes bouts of irregular sprints and jumps. Literature reveals running velocity (RV) can be improved with sprint training, towing, overspeed, and plyometric exercises. More...

The purpose of this study were (i) to diagnose the presence of laterality in tennis sideways movements, (ii) to compare the effects of three training programs that involved either tennis-specific lateral drills, plyometric training or the combination of the two former programs on tennis-specific movements. More...

Possibly the most underemphasized aspect of sports nutrition, hydration can make or break an athlete’s performance. While fuel depletion during exercise can impair performance, inadequate water not only impairs exercise capacity, but can create life threatening disturbances in fluid balances and core temperature. More...

Nutritional needs of the endurance athlete are aggressively studied and the days of the pre-marathon pasta dinner have been enhanced by a sophisticated understanding of how nutrients can improve long-duration performance. More...

Annual sales of supplements in the United States are estimated at $16 billion and an average of 1,000 new products are developed each year.(1) The lure of weight loss, improved performance, a sleeker physique, or better metal clarity is strong. More...

The life of a professional sports trainer is generally one of specialty, focusing on a specific area to ensure players reach peak performance. But the San Francisco Giants have coach Ben Potenziano to perform the job of many. Potenziano, who uniquely doubles as a head athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach, is responsible for keeping his baseball players healthy for 162 games a year More...

Do you know the basic principles behind flexibility training? Take this interactive quiz to find out! More...

Enhance your client's golf game with these essential tips! More...

It has long been stressed that flexibility is one of the most important and beneficial parts of any sports-conditioning program. But despite its importance, it is frequently ignored by thousands of athletes in their physical conditioning programs. More...

It is becoming more common for runners to incorporate strength training into their exercise regimen; however, there is no evidence that supports a particular strength training regimen that will improve a runner’s performance. More...

As the strength and conditioning coach for the Indiana Pacers, one of the most daunting parts of my day is the pre-practice team warm-up. Ask most strength coaches around the league and they will echo my sentiments. More...

New body composition technology that is easier to administer, such as air displacement plethysmography (ADP), and leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis (LBIA), has gained recent interest. More...

Traditional strength and power training has utilized exercises that generate maximal force over slow velocities. Recent studies have demonstrated that high-velocity training can improve strength and power during higher velocity movements, which may be beneficial for athletes who perform quick, high-velocity motions. More...

Baseball athletes are dependent upon muscular power, speed, strength, and endurance in the shoulder, not only for optimal performance but also for injury prevention. More...

Whether teaching school children or elite athletes, coaching is in Matt Nichol’s blood. In 1997, this former school teacher pursued a career as a strength and conditioning coach — first with the Toronto Maple Leaves before starting his own business. More...

The ability of an athlete to perform movement with efficiency and fluidity is of prime concern. More...

Performance enhancement ranks quite high on the list of most commonly sought after goals in the gym. In fact, we might see this trend more as people are being motivated to become more active, recreational sports should get a boost in participation. More...

Whether used to build a foundation or boost a performance, athletes all over the world are turning to dietary supplements. The options for supplements are overwhelming — even to the most seasoned client. And, without the proper education, the world of supplements can be a dangerous one, as the industry is largely unregulated and not all products are safe. More...

Generally, football players are divided into categories of “linemen” and “skill positions.” Accordingly, the focus of this article will be the skill-position player. More...

The game of football, perhaps more than any other sport, combines the need for size, strength, speed, and power. Perhaps no position encompasses these dimensions more than the defensive line position. More...

Use the NASM Optimum Performance Training Model to enhance the performance of your football athlete. More...

With the summer sun beating down, athletes need to remain hydrated to perfom at their best. learn six tips to keep them healthy, safe and ready for action. More...

While many athletes reach the peak of their careers in the first half of their lives, master’s-level competitors are defying preconceived notions of being fit later in life. More...

More...

Using the NASM Optimum Performance Training Model to enhance the performance of your basketball athlete. More...

Fifteen years ago, professional baseball adopted a general policy of observing a 100-pitch count guideline for pitchers. Supporters of the pitch count believe it will keep athletes safe and injury-free while increasing their longevity in the sport and decreasing recovery time. More...

This presentation is a literature review of current research findings regarding evidence-based performance assessments. More...

More...