IUSCA, Headingley Campus, Church Wood Avenue, Leeds (2026)

20/08/2026

Are you choosing the exercise first—or identifying the adaptation you want first?

Effective programming shouldn’t start with a list of exercises. It should start with understanding what you want the athlete to adapt to.

Once you understand the desired adaptation, you can then select the exercises and training methods that best achieve it.

During the IUSCA 2026 International Conference on Strength and Conditioning, shared his thoughts as part of our roundtable discussion on why coaches should focus on the adaptation first, rather than the exercise.

A simple shift in thinking—but one that can have a huge impact on how you programme and coach your athletes.

🤔💭 Do you start with the exercise or the adaptation when developing your programmes?

Follow the link below for more educational content ⬇️

🎥IUSCA.org/iusca-video

🔽🔽🔽

You can also access IUSCA Video for 🆓 by registering for any course or certification at IUSCA.org/courses

19/08/2026

“The primary aim of this study was to assess the objective and the perceived priming effect of resisted sled sprints (RSS) on 30m skating sprint performance.”

By Laakso, L., Cleather, D., & Patterson, S. (2026).

🔗Read the Full Text article for FREE⬇️
https://www.iusca.org/post/priming-effect-of-heavy-sled-sprints-on-skating-sprints-in-ice-hockey

18/08/2026

🌍 SHARING OUR COMMITMENT TO OPEN SCIENCE

The IUSCA's International Journal of Strength and Conditioning is proudly Diamond Open Access: free for anyone to read and free for authors to publish.

Maintaining that model is made possible through the support of universities, libraries and institutions that share our commitment to making S&C research accessible to the entire global profession.

We therefore want to recognise and thank Jisc, Lyrasis, VIVA and our institutional funding supporters:

MIT • The Ohio State University • Imperial College London • UMass Amherst • York St John University • University of Bath • University of Southern Queensland • NYU • Yale • University College Birmingham • University of Washington • Swarthmore College • University of Wolverhampton • Iowa State University • Sacred Heart University • University of Rhode Island • KU Leuven • University of Arkansas • Manchester Metropolitan University

Their support helps sustain a publishing model in which neither the ability to access knowledge nor the ability to contribute knowledge is determined by an individual's financial resources.

Scientific knowledge develops through conjecture, criticism, testing and error correction. The wider the community able to engage with research, question it and contribute competing ideas, the greater the opportunity for knowledge to grow.

Diamond Open Access also supports genuine international participation. Practitioners outside universities can read the research. Students can participate regardless of institutional subscriptions. Researchers can submit work regardless of whether they have funding available for publication charges.

Ideas can therefore be exposed to the widest possible community and judged on their quality and merit.

Following the IJSC's acceptance for indexing in Scopus, we are proud to continue demonstrating that international academic recognition and genuinely open scientific publishing can go together.

💎 Free to Read. Free to Publish. Open to Criticism.

Thank you to every institution helping us keep S&C knowledge open to everyone.

📖 journal.iusca.org

17/08/2026

🚨 MAJOR MILESTONE: THE IJSC IS NOW INDEXED IN SCOPUS 🚨

We are delighted to announce that the International Journal of Strength and Conditioning has been formally accepted for indexing in Scopus.

Scopus does not automatically index journals. Titles reaching review are independently evaluated by subject experts against criteria including peer review, academic contribution, journal standing, publishing regularity, international reach and publication ethics. Acceptance therefore represents a major step in the development and international recognition of the IJSC.

Dr Tom Gee, Co-Editor-in-Chief:

“Acceptance by Scopus marks a significant progressive step for the International Journal of Strength and Conditioning. With being indexed within this globally renowned database the journal will have enhanced visibility to researchers, practitioners and students who benefit from our commitment to Diamond Open Access and regular weekly publication of articles within the field of strength and conditioning.”

The IJSC remains proudly Diamond Open Access: free to read and with no publication charges for authors, supporting our mission for open science within the entire S&C profession.

We also thank Jisc, Lyrasis, VIVA and our institutional funding supporters: MIT, The Ohio State University, Imperial College London, UMass Amherst, York St John University, University of Bath, University of Southern Queensland, NYU, Yale, University College Birmingham, University of Washington, Swarthmore College, University of Wolverhampton, Iowa State University, Sacred Heart University, University of Rhode Island, KU Leuven, University of Arkansas and Manchester Metropolitan University.

A major milestone for open strength and conditioning research.

15/08/2026

🌍 The S&C Practitioner Pathway

The IUSCA S&C Practitioner Pathway provides a structured route for developing and recognising professional competence in strength and conditioning, from the early stages of a career through to international professional mastery.

Aligned with the International Qualification Framework (IQF) and independently regulated by the IQF-IRC, the pathway enables practitioners to progress through clearly defined levels reflecting increasing knowledge, competence, responsibility, and professional expertise.

🔵 IQF Level 2 | Certified S&C Instructor
Develop the foundations required to safely and effectively deliver S&C activities under appropriate guidance and within a defined scope of practice.

⚪ IQF Level 4 | Certified S&C Practitioner
Develop the competence required for independent S&C practice, including athlete assessment, programme design, coaching, monitoring, and evaluation.

🔴 IQF Level 6 / Level 7 | Accredited International S&C Practitioner (aISCP)
Professional accreditation recognising experienced, degree-qualified practitioners who can integrate scientific knowledge with advanced professional judgement and applied practice. Level 7 recognises further postgraduate education and professional development.

⚫ IQF Level 8 | Master International S&C Practitioner (mISCP)
The highest level of professional recognition within the pathway, recognising sustained expertise, leadership, and significant contribution to S&C over an extensive professional career.

The IQF provides a common international framework through which practitioner competence can be understood and recognised across different roles, career stages, and countries, supporting professional mobility and internationally recognised certification in 120+ countries worldwide.

Wherever you are in your S&C career, there is a pathway to continue developing.

🌍 Explore the IUSCA Practitioner Pathway:
www.iusca.org/courses

13/08/2026

Speed isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Every athlete has different strengths, weaknesses, and performance demands—and understanding what they actually need is the first step towards effective speed development.

For practitioners, the challenge isn’t simply adding more sprinting to the programme. It’s identifying where an athlete can improve, whether that’s acceleration, top-end speed, mechanics, force production, or another limiting factor.

At the IUSCA 2026 International Conference on Strength and Conditioning, broke down how coaches can identify what their athletes need within speed and acceleration development, helping them make more informed decisions about how to train.

Because better speed development starts with better assessment 📊

🤔💭What do you look at first when assessing an athlete’s speed?

12/08/2026

“Understanding the determinants and how to assess pickup acceleration can help delineate between track speed and sports speed, enabling coaches to tailor pickup acceleration training for improved performance in terms of sport specificity.”

By Pryer, M., Cronin, J., Neville, J., Korfist, C., & Uthoff, A. (2026).

🔗Read the Full Text article for FREE⬇️
https://www.iusca.org/post/coaching-insights-into-pickup-acceleration

11/08/2026

📢 IUSCA welcomes Flo Pietzsch as a Director of Industry Engagement.

We are delighted to welcome Flo Pietzsch to the IUSCA team, bringing more than 25 years of experience across higher education, elite sport, and national performance pathways.

Flo is currently Principal Lecturer and Course Leader at the University of Brighton, where he leads MSc and BSc programmes in Strength & Conditioning. His work spans curriculum design, staff leadership, quality assurance, and the development of future high-performance practitioners.

Alongside his academic leadership, Flo has an extensive applied background supporting elite and international athletes across tennis, cricket, rugby, and Olympic-funded sport. His career has included senior roles with the Lawn Tennis Association, English Institute of Sport, Sussex County Cricket Club, and Harlequins Rugby, with experience leading physical preparation across national squads, academy pathways, and high-performance environments.

As one of our Directors of Industry Engagement, Flo will help strengthen the connection between higher education, professional standards, and applied S&C practice.

As Flo explains:

"I’m particularly interested in strengthening alignment between academic provision and industry standards. This includes exploring co-endorsed degree pathways, clearer progression routes from education into applied roles, and longer-term discussions around professional recognition and potential chartered status for S&C practitioners."

His work will also support closer links between universities and applied performance environments, helping ensure academic programmes continue to reflect the evolving demands of professional practice.

We look forward to working with Flo as the IUSCA continues to develop its international education, accreditation, and professional recognition initiatives.

🌍 www.iusca.org

10/08/2026

Verified Certificates. Internationally Registered. 🌍

Following the launch of the new IUSCA IQF Verification Portal, eligible IUSCA IQF certification holders from Level 2 onwards are now automatically recorded on the International Register of Strength and Conditioning Professionals (IRSCP).

Developed in collaboration with the IQF-IRC, the IRSCP provides a clear and verifiable record of professional certification and corresponding IQF level within strength and conditioning.

Together, the IRSCP and Verification Portal strengthen the infrastructure supporting professional S&C credentials:

✅ Verified certification records
✅ Clearly defined professional levels
✅ Greater transparency for employers and organisations
✅ Improved international portability
✅ A verifiable record of professional standing

Certificate holders do not need to take any additional action. Eligible IUSCA IQF certifications are automatically recorded, with verification available directly through the holder’s official record.

This represents another step towards greater transparency, consistency and trust in professional strength and conditioning credentials worldwide.

🌐 Learn more about IUSCA certifications:
iusca.org/courses

🔎 Verify an IUSCA IQF credential:
iusca.org/verify

Trusted. Verified. Global.

08/08/2026

📢 FREE WEBINAR | Finding a Way: Making On the Spot Adjustments to Training

No training plan survives contact with reality.

Athletes arrive carrying minor injuries, soreness, fatigue, movement restrictions, or unexpected issues that require immediate decisions from the coach. The challenge is maintaining the intent of the session while adapting safely and effectively to the athlete in front of you.

In this practical webinar, Cole Hergott will explore how strength and conditioning coaches can make confident, evidence-informed adjustments in real time without losing sight of the long-term training process.

Cole is the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Trinity Western University Spartans, where he oversees the physical preparation of more than 300 student-athletes. His experience managing large numbers of athletes, often with limited resources and varying individual needs, has led to practical systems for adapting training while maintaining programme quality.

Before joining TWU, Cole completed his MSc in Coaching Science at the University of British Columbia and gained experience across professional sport, national teams, high school athletics, and general fitness. He is also an IUSCA IQF Level 6 Accredited International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (aISCP).

During this webinar, Cole will discuss:

✔ How to adjust training when athletes present with injuries, pain, or movement limitations
✔ Preserving the purpose of the session while modifying exercise selection or loading
✔ Decision making in dynamic coaching environments
✔ Practical examples drawn from collegiate S&C practice

📅 Thursday 27 August
🕘 9:00am PST | 12:00pm EST | 5:00pm BST

Thank you to Hawkin Dynamics for supporting this webinar series.

🔗Register for FREE now at www.iusca.org/events

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