The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is excited to provide you with this Basics of Strength and Conditioning Manual. This manual is intended to assist Associate Members, however, it is available to all NSCA Members to help them learn the basic principles and movement fundamentals that should be included in every strength and conditioning program. The first three levels of the Performance Pyramid covered in the Basics of Strength and Conditioning Manual will help prepare you to monitor or supervise strength and conditioning workouts. However, the NSCA highly recommends that any coach who wants to design or conduct an exercise program be CSCS® certified. The top level of the Performance Pyramid is touched on briefly in the Basics of Strength and Conditioning Manual but to fully prepare for CSCS certification a coach would need to study the Essentials of Strength and Conditioning Text. In addition, certified strength coaches with two or more years experience can apply to be part of the NSCA’s Registry of Strength and Conditioning Coaches (RSCC). Registered strength and conditioning coaches with 10 or more years of experience are classified by RSCCD while RSCCE indicates 20 or more years of experience and is the highest distinction a strength coach can achieve in the industry. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you as you move along the NSCA’s Coaching Performance Path. More information can be found at NSCA.com. Thank you for your support