STRENGTH SENSEI BOOKSHELF
Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance
Make no mistake: This book is a monster!
With 740 pages and weighing in at a bodyweight of 3.69 pounds, the editors made a valid attempt to leave no research paper unturned in this collection of detailed presentations by respective authorities in the fields of strength and conditioning. In fact, Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance is so big that Amazon offers the option to rent it!
Editors Ian Jeffrey and Jeremy Moody are professional educators who have “walked the talk” as strength coaches. For example, Jeffreys was awarded the NSCA’s High School Professional of the Year in 2006 and Moody has coached athletes at the world and Olympic levels. Both have shared their knowledge and experience through speaking presentations. And the list of the other 48 contributors reads like a “Who’s Who” of pioneers in the strength coaching profession.
First published in 2016 and upgraded to a second edition last year, Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance is used as a textbook for the UK Strength and Conditioning Association to achieve accreditation. However, it should also be considered a valuable reference book for experienced strength coaches. The material is presented in six sections, progressing from theory to practice, as follows:
SECTION I
Coaching
SECTION II
Scientific Basis of Training
SECTION III
Applied Practice
SECTION IV
Special Considerations in Strength and Conditioning
SECTION V
Current Training Methods
SECTION VI
Sport Specific
Section I should be required reading for every strength coach. It covers the job requirements of a strength coach, discusses what a coach should know, how they should think, and provides practical advice on making good decisions.
For the experienced strength coach, Section IV will be of special interest. It takes the theory presented in the previous five sections and applies it to specific sports. One of the significant differences between this edition and the first one is the inclusion of three additional sports, rugby union, swimming, and MMA. The other sports covered are football (i.e., soccer), cricket, golf, rowing, field hockey, basketball, tennis, cycling, and throwing events in track and field. These chapters contain a needs analysis of each sport, discusses common injuries associated with the sport, and provides sample workouts.
As a textbook, the material is heavily referenced. Although much of it could be considered “dry” and a challenge to read, learning is enhanced with tables, charts, photos, and well-designed illustrations. The content follows the approach used by most educational materials produced by the NSCA, so don’t expect to find inspirational stories of legendary powerlifting champions or the most popular arm routines of Mr. Olympia winners.
Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance is advertised as “an essential course text for any degree-level student with an interest in strength and conditioning, for all students looking to achieve professional accreditation, and an invaluable reference for all practicing strength and conditioning coaches.” Without question, it fulfills that promise! (TSS)
[Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance, 2nd Edition by Ian Jeffrey and Jeremy Moody is available through Amazon.com in hardcover, paperback, and eTextbook formats. It is also available for rent.]
