As a strength coach and physiologist, I often get asked about tapering and how it fits into a training program. Simply put, tapering is the final step in a training plan to ensure athletes are at their best for a competition.

When strength and conditioning coaches enter the weight room, the main goal is to develop the primary physical capacities that are most related to the athlete’s sport. The most common objectives of strength training are increasing maximal strength and power output. However, as a part of most periodized training programs, strength coaches often include high volume/repetition training phases with the goal of increasing muscle size, and additionally work capacity and metabolic alterations which can support greater strength adaptations down the road.

All views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the United States Government, The Department of Defense, or The Department of the Air Force.

In the popular book, Extreme Ownership, co-authors Jocko Willink and Leif Babin discuss standard operating procedures (SOP's) extensively.  They describe SOPs as a means of creating a clear process to make commonly performed tasks as efficient as possible.

Train 4 The Game is a renowned training center with a rich legacy of excellence, spanning over two decades of operation in Austin, Texas. They bring together a team of coaches with an impressive total of over 120 years of combined coaching experience. This esteemed group has successfully trained over 800 professional and college athletes to reach the pinnacle of their performance and guided thousands of individuals in their journey to regain full mobility after minor and major injuries. Additionally, they've helped numerous clients achieve their goals in weight loss and strength gain.

What sets Train 4 The Game apart is their team of coaches, all experts in Applied Functional Science, with bachelor's degrees in exercise science, and several holding master's degrees in exercise physiology. This level of expertise ensures that every client, ranging from age 9 to 92, receives personalized and top-tier training.

Every coach hears these questions without fail: "What weight should I use?" or "How hard should this set be?". Sometimes it's because the athlete didn't read their program but oftentimes it's on us as coaches to provide sufficient clarity when it comes to prescribing the appropriate weight for the given set and rep parameters.

This post has been adapted from a more detailed article that appears in BridgeAthletic’s new ebook called “Raising the Bar: How World-Class Coaches Elevate Their Programming”. You can download the complete eBook for free to get tips and advice from experts at Exos, FMS, Hyperice, Results Fitness, and more.

Programming specialized protocols that utilize kettlebells (or any other piece of equipment) can pose a significant challenge, especially when working with different digital platforms. By utilizing BridgeAthletic as your digital platform, you can tap into its immense power to effortlessly program these specialized protocols and, most importantly, make them more comprehensible for your athletes and clients.

This post has been adapted from a more detailed article that appears in BridgeAthletic’s new ebook called “Raising the Bar: How World-Class Coaches Elevate Their Programming”. You can download the complete eBook for free to get tips and advice from experts at Exos, FMS, Hyperice, Results Fitness, and more.