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What is sport science and who is it for?
Sport science is the application of scientific processes to improve athletic and team performance and decrease the risk of injury.
It is applicable to both specialists and generalists working across various scientific disciplines within the performance field, such as strength and conditioning coaches, athletic trainers, physical therapists, registered dieticians, psychologists, biomechanists, and physiologists.
Book and certification work in tandem to fortify sport science expertise
About the book
Within the domain of sport, the application of science is more apparent than ever before. Professional teams, sporting organizations, and private training companies are embracing approaches that use scientific principles to help their athletes and teams gain a competitive edge in sporting competition.
In response to the growing demand for sport scientists who can collect and convert data into valuable information that directly influences training and improves performance outcomes, the world-renowned National Strength and Conditioning Association developed the definitive reference for anyone in the field.
NSCA's Essentials of Sport Science features contributions from 52 globally recognized experts and thought leaders from the field of sport science. It is the only resource to go beyond sport science's foundations—physiology, biochemistry, biomechanics, nutrition, and skill acquisition—to address the use of statistics and broader fields of data science, analytics, and technology management. Readers will explore every aspect of the sport scientist's role: understanding training theory, performing needs analyses, conducting athlete monitoring and assessment, managing data and analytics, and educating and disseminating information. The integration of these technical skills will guide sport scientists in drawing conclusions that can be used to manipulate training methods and shape competition strategies for the betterment of athletes' health, well-being, and performance.
Learn more about the book Download the preface (free)
About the CPSS
The content in NSCA's Essentials of Sport Science text specifically addresses the knowledge, skills, and abilities that are tested on the NSCA's Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS) certification exam. Registration for the inaugural exam sitting will begin in the first quarter of 2021.
Those who hold a CPSS certification demonstrate leadership qualities, with the ability to apply foundational knowledge and skill across multiple sport-related scientific disciplines, instill best practices for the assessment and use of performance technology, and suggest evidence-based training practices through the process and application of scientific research. The Certified Performance and Sport Scientist maintains productive relationships with sport coaches, athletic performance staff, medical staff, and other key stakeholders, to enhance communication and decision-making in sport and athletic performance settings.
Learn more about NSCA's CPSS
An esteemed collaboration from international leaders in sport science
Editors
Duncan N. French, PhD, CSCS,*D - UFC Performance Institute, USA
Lorena Torres Ronda, PhD - Victoria University, USA
Contributors
Courteney L. Benjamin, PhD, CSCS - Samford University, USA
Chris P. Bertram, PhD - University of the Fraser Valley, Canada
Tyler A. Bosch, PhD - Red Bull Athlete Performance Center, USA
Clive Brewer, BSc (Hons), MSc, CSCS - Columbus Crew SC, USA
Martin Buchheit, PhD - HIIT Science, France; Kitman Labs, France
Louise M. Burke, PhD - Australia Catholic University, Australia
Julio Calleja-González, PhD - University of the Basque Country, Spain
Marco Cardinale, PhD - Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar
David Carey, PhD - La Trobe University, Australia
Douglas J. Casa, PhD, CSCS - University of Connecticut, USA
Jo Clubb, MSc - Buffalo Bills, USA
Daniel Cohen, PhD - Mindeporte (Colombian Ministry of Sport), Columbia
Cassandra C. Collins, BS - Streaming Foods, Brazil
Stuart Cormack, PhD - Australia Catholic University, Australia
Aaron J. Coutts, PhD - University of Technology Sydney, Australia
>Roman N. Fomin, PhD - UFC Performance Institute, USA
Tim Gabbett, BHSc (Hons), PhD - Gabbett Performance Solutions, Australia
G. Gregory Haff, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA - Edith Cowan University, Australia
Shona L. Halson, PhD - Australia Catholic University, Australia
Franco M. Impellizzeri, PhD - University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Joel Jamieson - 8WeeksOut, USA
Mladen Jovanović, MS - University of Belgrade, Serbia
David Joyce, BPhty (Hons), MPhty (Sports), MSc - The Performance Union, Australia
Cory Kennedy, MSc, CSCS - Chicago Cubs Baseball Club, USA
Enda King, PhD - Sports Surgery Clinic, Ireland
William J. Kraemer, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA - The Ohio State University, USA
Paul Laursen, PhD - HIIT Science, Canada
Yann Le Meur, PhD - YLMSportScience, France
Ric Lovell, PhD - Western Sydney University, Australia
Mike McGuigan, PhD, CSCS,*D - Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
Shaun J. McLaren, PhD - Durham University, UK
Jean-Benoît Morin, PhD - University Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne, France
Andrew M. Murray, PhD, CSCS - NBA, USA
Darcy Norman, PT - Kitman Labs, USA; US Men's National Soccer Team, USA
Eric S. Rawson, PhD, CSCS, NSCA-CPT - Messiah University, USA
Chris Richter, PhD - Sports Surgery Clinic, Germany
Sam Robertson, PhD - Victoria University, Australia
Kay Robinson, BSc (Hons) - GWS Giants Football Club, Australia
Pierre Samozino, PhD - University Savoie Mont Blanc, France
Xavier Schelling i del Alcázar, PhD, CSCS - Victoria University, USA
Yasuki Sekiguchi, PhD, CSCS - University of Connecticut, USA
Jessica M. Stephens, PhD - Australian Capital Territory Academy of Sport, Australia
Michael H. Stone, PhD, CSCS, FNSCA - East Tennessee State University, USA
Nicolás Terrados, MD, PhD - Regional Unit of Sports Medicine and Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias, Spain
Jacqueline Tran, PhD - High Performance Sport New Zealand, New Zealand
Matthew C. Varley, PhD - La Trobe University, Australia
Johann Windt, PhD, CSCS - Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Canada
Nick Winkelman, PhD, CSCS, NSCA-CPT - Irish Rugby Football Union, Ireland
Gabriele Wulf, PhD - University of Nevada-Las Vegas, USA
Foreword: Reflections on Sport Science
Michael H. Stone, PhD, and William J. Kraemer, PhD
Part I. Training Theory and Process
Chapter 1. Performance Dimensions
Nick Winkelman, PhD, and Darcy Norman, PT
Chapter 2. Training Load Model
Stuart Cormack, PhD, and Aaron J. Coutts, PhD
Chapter 3. Periodization and Programming for Individual Sports
- Gregory Haff, PhD
Chapter 4. Periodization and Programming for Team Sports
Martin Buchheit, PhD, and Paul Laursen, PhD
Part II. Needs Analysis
Chapter 5. Key Performance Indicators
Marco Cardinale, PhD
Chapter 6. Profiling and Benchmarking
Mike McGuigan, PhD
Part III. Technology and Data Preparation
Chapter 7. Technological Implementation
Lorena Torres Ronda, PhD
Chapter 8. Data Hygiene
Matthew C. Varley, PhD, Ric Lovell, PhD, and David Carey, PhD
Part IV. External and Internal Load Data Collection
Chapter 9. Characteristics of Tracking Systems and Load Monitoring
Jo Clubb, MSc, and Andrew M. Murray, PhD
Chapter 10. Analysis of Tracking Systems and Load Monitoring
Andrew M. Murray, PhD, and Jo Clubb, MSc
Chapter 11. Kinematics and Gait Analysis
Enda King, PhD, and Chris Richter, PhD
Chapter 12. Kinetics and Force Platforms
Daniel Cohen, PhD, and Cory Kennedy, MSc
Chapter 13. Strength Tracking and Analysis
Jean-Benoît Morin, PhD, and Pierre Samozino, PhD
Chapter 14. Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability
Joel Jamieson
Chapter 15. Electroencephalography and Electroneuromyography
Roman N. Fomin, PhD, and Cassandra C. Collins, BS
Chapter 16. Biomarkers for Health and Performance
Xavier Schelling i del Alcázar, PhD, Julio Calleja-González, PhD, and Nicolás Terrados, MD, PhD
Chapter 17. Perception of Effort and Subjective Monitoring
Shaun J. McLaren, PhD, Aaron J. Coutts, PhD, and Franco M. Impellizzeri, PhD
Part V. Data Analysis and Delivery
Chapter 18. Statistical Modeling
Mladen Jovanović, Lorena Torres Ronda, PhD, and Duncan N. French, PhD
Chapter 19. Injury Risk Model
Johann Windt, PhD, and Tim Gabbett, BHSc (Hons), PhD
Chapter 20. Data Mining and Nonlinear Data Analysis
Sam Robertson, PhD
Chapter 21. Data Delivery and Reporting
Tyler A. Bosch, PhD, and Jacqueline Tran, PhD
Chapter 22. Performance Interventions and Operationalizing Data
Clive Brewer, BSc (Hons), MSc
Part VI. Special Topics
Chapter 23. Recovery and Sleep
Jessica M. Stephens, PhD, and Shona L. Halson, PhD
Chapter 24. Fueling and Nutrition
Louise M. Burke, PhD, and Eric S. Rawson, PhD
Chapter 25. Environmental Stress
Yasuki Sekiguchi, PhD, Courteney L. Benjamin, PhD, and Douglas J. Casa, PhD
Chapter 26. Psychobiology: Flow State as a Countermeasure to Mental Fatigue
Chris P. Bertram, PhD
Chapter 27. Neuroscience Approach to Performance
Roman N. Fomin, PhD, and Cassandra C. Collins, BS
Chapter 28. Motor Performance
Gabriele Wulf, PhD
Chapter 29. Sport Science of Injury
David Joyce, BPhty (Hons), MPhty (Sports), MSc, and Kay Robinson, BSc (Hons)
Part VII. Education and Communication
Chapter 30. Interdisciplinary Support
Duncan N. French, PhD
Chapter 31. Information Dissemination
Yann Le Meur, PhD
