RESOURCE GUIDE
2. STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
WHY: You need to build a solid foundation of knowledge about exercise science, physiology, and strength & conditioning to add more advanced concepts and methods. Your goal is to create a tool box full of different opinions, science, methods, approaches, philosophies, systems, and knowledge.
Books
- Concurrent Aerobic and Strength Training: Scientific Basic and Practical Applications 1st 2019 edition by Moritz Schumann and Bent Ronnestad $136.66
WHY: “This book provides an extensive guide for exercise and health professionals, students, scientists, sport coaches, athletes of various sports and those with a general interest in concurrent aerobic and strength training.”
WHY: Master the Fundamentals. This textbook is utilized for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam from the NSCA. It is important to have a solid base to build a house on. You also need to know the rules before you can begin to break the rules.
WHY: In my opinion, this is one of the best training books for filtering concepts. Cal Dietz provides scientific research on maximizing strength, power, and speed. It also includes over 3,000 hyperlinks to exercise videos. Stop taking programs word for word and explore the concepts involved in the program more than the actual program.
WHY: In my opinion, this is the best conditioning/energy system book. Joel Jamieson provides both knowledge and application about categorizing conditioning goals; concepts can be extrapolated to non-MMA athletes.
WHY: Expand you knowledge for cardiovascular training systems, exercise selection, and exercise prescription.
- MASS I and MASS II by Dr. Pat Davidson and Ben House (MASS II), Mass I $87, MASS II $99
WHY: This is a detailed physiological model for training with a specific goal/adaptation in mind. Mass II includes nutritional components to assist that goal by Dr. Ben House. The books show you the thought process of a great mind in creating a training program.
WHY: “The classics are classics for a reason. This is a one stop shop for everything strength training and an essential text for any strength coach. Even experienced coaches will find themselves coming back to and referencing this text time and time again.”- Justin Moore
WHY: “This is a dense and challenging book that will make you question nearly everything you thought you knew about transfer of training to sport. While it elicits more questions than it provides answers in many places, it’s nonetheless an incredibly important text to move our industry in the right direction. Understanding motor learning theory and dynamic systems theory allowed me to more effectively communicate with my athletes and get my message across, and more importantly, allowed me to recognize that I needed to step back and allow the task and the environment to do the coaching for me.”- Justin Moore
- Supertraining by Yuri V. Verkhoshansky and Mel C. Stiff $65.00
WHY: This is an encyclopedia for strength training. It may not be a cover-to-cover read but it is an invaluable resource for referral to any topic.
- Scientific Principles of Strength Training by Dr. Mike Israetal and Dr. James Hoffmann $219.99
Ebooks
- Isometrics For Performance by Max Schmarzo & Matt Van Dyke $30.00 (recommended by Justin Moore and Declan Morrissey)
WHY: “An often-neglected training method, isometric training can be an exceptionally powerful stimulus for improving force production, rate of force development, hypertrophy, positional control, and muscular endurance.”-Justin Moore
- Applied Principles Of Optimal Power Development by Max Schmarzo & Matt Van Dyke $30.00 (suggested by Justin Moore)
WHY: “My favorite parts of this book were the sections about maximizing intent, optimizing readiness, post activation potentiation (PAP), and cluster training to maintain velocity across the workout. If you want practical information that you can immediately apply to improve your athlete’s power with the theory to back it up, look no further than this eBook.” - Justin Moore
- American Football Physical Preparation by Buddy Morris & Ryan Williams $39.95 (recommended by Justin Moore)
WHY: “Buddy Morris is the head physical preparation coach for the Arizona Cardinals, and a shining example of the beginner’s mind mentality…Concepts include the importance of acceleration training, how to truly train for speed, accumulating quality sprint volume, the alactic/aerobic nature of football, why glycolytic training makes no sense, periodization and programming for football, the application of tempo training, etc...” - Justin Moore
- Theory and Application of Modern Strength and Power Methods by Christian Thibaudeau $29.99 (recommended by Justin Moore)
WHY: “Great information regarding the differences in stimulus and adaptation to eccentric, isometric, and concentric resistance training as they pertain to power, strength, and hypertrophy. This is an underappreciated gem in the world of physical preparation, and provides valuable theory and practical application to improve any coach’s toolbox.”- Justin Moore
- The Charlie Francis Training System $9.99 Kindle
WHY: “The late, great Charlie Francis was far ahead of his time, and widely considered to be one of the greatest track and field coaches the world has ever seen. His training principles transcended track and field, and are incredibly valuable for any physical preparation coach to understand…Don’t chase fatigue…chase the highest quality and highest outputs possible. Do what needs to be done as a coach to ensure that the volume accumulated is actually driving the desired adaptation. Charlie understood that and conveyed it better than anyone else I’ve read.”- Justin Moore
Articles
- TOP 3 SINGLE LEG EXERCISES FOR YOKED ASS LEGS By Michelle Boland & Dr. Tim Richardt
- It's NOT about the Grind, It's about BUILDING by Michelle Boland
- Hormones and Training: What you Need to Know by Dr. Pat Davidson
- Myocardial Oxygen Consumption in Fitness by Dr. Pat Davidson
- Triplanar Pelvis and Ribcage Control during Medicine Ball Training, A Progressive Systemic Approach by Dr. Pat Davidson
WHY: This is everything you need to know about med ball throw progressions. The article is a complete med ball exercise library with explanations and videos. This article is very advanced by if you take the appropriate amount of time to study and understand the material, you will instantly become a better coach.
- The Reactive Strength Index Revisited Parts 1, 2, and 3 by Eamonn Flanagan (suggested by Justin Moore)
WHY: “This series of articles changed the way I look at plyometrics and training to increase rate of force development forever…” - Justin Moore
- Toughness: Reconciling The Military and Sport by Resilient Performance Physical Therapy Blog
- Antifragility and Adaptive Reserve in Sport by Resilient Performance Physical Therapy Blog
- Isometric Exercises for Athletes: The complete guide by Just Fly Sports
- A Perspective on Program Analysis and Design: Explore Your Belief System by Michelle Boland
WHY: The article outlines the process and principles underlying the design of your training program and its implementation. This article is a resource for programming and establishing your training principles and process.
Podcasts
- More Train, Less Pain; Engineering the Adaptable Athlete
- Physical Preparation With Mike Robertson
- Just Fly Sports Performance
- The Pinnacle Performance Podcast
- The Fitness Devil Podcast
Fitness Education Content
WHY: You will learn how to build your own workouts following a step-by-step guide so your fitness never gets stale, how to never stop moving like an athlete even from home with small space plyometric and jumping activities to build speed and power, how to maintain strength using minimal equipment and basic household items, how to build endurance and aerobic capacity with interval training, and how to create consistency in our fitness all from your living room.
- Training Program Considerations: Where to Start & Long Term Outlook Handbook by Michelle Boland FREE
WHY: Discover how to prioritize and eliminate variables to streamline the programming process by planning ahead of time with a quick, stress-free, systematized approach. The Handbook includes the following for youth, young adult, and adult training: Programming decision considerations, Coaching strategies, Long term outlooks, Implementation of strategies and methodologies, Session structure recommendations, Weekly layouts, and Where to Start.
Fitness Seminars & Online Course s
- Boston Health & Performance Summit June 2024
The BHPS will provide access to innovative and recognized leaders to enable strength coaches, athletic trainers, physical therapists, sport medicine professionals, and movement specialists to come together and expand their perspectives on health, well-being, injury, pain, coaching, and athletic performance. This is by far the best weekend seminar you will go to!
WHY: This is by far the best seminar I have ever been to for S&C professionals, physical therapists, and personal trainers. The seminar takes you all the way from theory/rationale to implementation, coaching, and programming. This is a great resource for creativity with exercises, biomechanics, coaching skills, and programming. Please see Pat’s website or Instagram for various live course dates and locations.
WHY: The Strategy Complete Coaching Course will lay out the 4 Pillars of Complete Coaching and how to master each pillar to maximize your programming efficiency and coaching effectiveness, so you clients and athletes will adhere and get long lasting results. A complete coach has a foundation of conditioning, strength training, and biomechanics...BUT more importantly a complete coach can communicate that knowledge effectively and put that knowledge into ACTION. The Strategy Course Complete Coaching will develop all of these components, including Training Knowledge, Teaching Strategies, Communication Strategies, and Implementation Strategies.
Blogs
Programs: Combine Training, Education & Community
- The Empowered Performance Program by Katie St.Clair
WHY: The program combines training and education. You will personality perform 12 weeks of workouts while receiving 12 online live group calls that include education about breathing, biomechanics, self-assessment, tendon health, and more.
WHY: They provide both education and coaching for trainers at all levels. The Raise the Standard education platform provides information on business development, biomechanics, program design, nutrition, and raising the standard in coaching development.
Webinar Recordings
- Programming for General Population Athleticism Replay by Michelle Boland FREE
WHY: Learn how to create athletic-style programs for your inactive clients. The webinar will review 6 athletic qualities, why they are important to implement with your inactive clientele, and programming and coaching strategies to do so.
- Principle-Based Coaching by Michelle Boland FREE
WHY: Learn the steps towards utilizing training principles and finding your unique coaching identity.
Websites, Social Media Resources, & Mentors
WHY: Find a mentor to provide direction, limit confirmation bias, limit selection bias, create relationships, introduce application, and increase shared experiences and context. Sometimes social media gets a bad reputation for promoting false social connections, egocentric and aesthetic material. However, if you use it right you can learn from great people who take the time to put out great content. You just need to be able to create a filter and get pointed in the right direction.
- Pat Davidson @dr.patdavidson
WHY: No one is changing the fitness industry game more right now then Dr. Pat Davidson. Your world is about to catch on fire.
- Justin Moore @jmsb_strengthtraining
WHY: Justin is one of the best coaches in the field and he is providing creative content via social media; especially relating to power and speed development along with his coaching techniques (highly valuable information).
- Kyle Dobbs @compoundperformance_
WHY: Kyle can become a valuable mentor with is knowledge and years of experience in the fitness industry.
- Michelle Boland @dr.michelleboland
WHY: A professional in the field of personal training and sports performance. Check out site: Michelle Boland
- Max Schmarzo @strong_by_science
- Mike Robertson @robtrainsystems
WHY: “Mike Robertson is truly an OG in the fitness industry. When you’re done giving him a follow, do yourself a favor and go to robertsontrainingsystems.com and start working your way through Mike’s articles, it’s one of the best free resources on the web.” - Justin Moore
- Katie St.Clair @katie.stclair.fitness
- Bill Hartman @billhartmanpt
- Mike Israetel @rpdrmike
SUB-CATEGORY: PARADIGM SHIFT IN TRAINING & PERFORMANCE
Books:
WHY: This is the best sports performance book I have ever encountered. Every coach and team sport staff member should read this and appreciate their influence on athlete performance. Fergus provides a detail, all-encompassing model for team sport and organization success.
Podcasts
- Just Fly Sports Performance Podcast
Articles
- ‘Cool Story, Bro’ – The Fallacy of Training Systems and Conventional Wisdom on Training Prescription by Paul Gamble
- Glazier, P.S. (2017). Towards a Grand Unified Theory of Sports Performance. Human Movement Science, 56, 139-156.
- Paradigm Shift in Sports Performance by Michelle Boland
- Transfer of Training Is So 1960’s by Resilient Performance Physical Therapy Blog
Seminars
- Intensive with Bill Hartman $699-800
WHY: Bill Hartman selects a small group of people to maximize interaction while he presents his model and shares his ideas for 2.5 days. Bill also wants each person to have goals for what they want to get from the experience, ask questions, and contribute to discussions. It is an EXPERIENCE. It is also a lesson in humility with the environment Bill creates. Sign up for his newsletter subscription for the next intensive announcement.
SUB-CATEGORY: MOTOR CONTROL & DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS THEORY
Books
WHY: This is a great book that provides some introductory theory on Karl Newell’s Constraints Led Approach to motor learning. The text describes in depth the origins and evolution of dynamical systems and helps readers deeply understand how coordination is assembled and mastered. The authors do a great job explaining the complexity of the many variables that contribute to motor control. After finishing this book I had a great understanding how constraints in our environment can shape learning and how to manipulate these constraints based on individual differences.
WHY: This book has had a huge influence of me understanding how to create an optimal learning environment for athletes and clients. The text contains 13 chapters that describe the latest research on attentional focus, feedback, mental imagery and visualization, biomechanical demonstrations, implicit motor learning, and creating motivation in sport and the weight room. This book helped me realize how important word choice and the environment one creates are for motor learning. A must read for anyone interested in word choice and culture in the weight room.
WHY: Non-Linear Pedagogy is a great resource for coaches who are looking to apply modern theories of skill acquisition into a practical sporting practice. The first part of the book goes over theory about the dynamic nature of sport, the importance of movement variability in sport, and allowing athletes to find authentic movement solutions. The book then goes over ways to practically apply these theories with great real-world examples. This text is crucial for any sport coaches who are attempting to design better practice environments for learning.
Articles
- Movement Systems as Dynamical Systems by Keith Davids, Paul Glazier et al. 2003
Podcast
- Perception Action Podcast – Rob Gray
