Founded in 1978, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an international nonprofit educational association with members in more than 56 countries. Drawing on its vast network of members, the NSCA develops and presents the most advanced information regarding strength training and conditioning practices, injury prevention, and research findings. Unlike any other organization, the NSCA brings together a diverse group of professionals from the sport science, athletic, allied health, and fitness industries. By working to find practical applications for new research findings in the strength and conditioning field, the association fosters the development of strength training and conditioning as a discipline and as a profession. Jay Hoffman, PhD, is a professor of exercise science at the University of Central Florida and coordinator of their sport and exercise science program. Long recognized as an expert in the field of exercise physiology, Hoffman has more than 150 publications to his credit in refereed journals, book chapters, and books, and he has lectured at more than 300 national and international conferences and meetings. He also has more than 17 years of experience coaching at the collegiate and professional levels. This combination of the practical and the theoretical provides him with a unique perspective on writing for both coaches and academic faculty. Hoffman was elected president of the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 2009. He was awarded the 2005 Outstanding Kinesiological Professional Award by the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut and the 2007 Outstanding Sport Scientist of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He also was awarded the 2000 Outstanding Junior Investigator Award by the NSCA. He is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and serves on the board of directors of the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation. He is the author of Physiological Aspects of Sport Training and Performance (Human Kinetics, 2002) and Norms for Fitness, Performance, and Health (Human Kinetics, 2006).