NSCA's Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning

All the information you need to prepare for NSCA TSAC-F certification.

NSCA’s Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning, Second Edition, is the most comprehensive strength and conditioning resource for practitioners who work with tactical athletes―law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel, conventional military forces, and special teams.

Designed primarily as a preparatory resource for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) certification, the text is also useful as a manual for government agencies or a daily reference for strength and conditioning professionals. Expert contributors from all three areas of the tactical industry―military, law enforcement, and fire and rescue―weigh in with unique insights from their fields.

The contributors not only provide foundational knowledge of exercise physiology and biomechanical movement patterns but also comprehensively review all the components necessary for TSAC Facilitators to design and deliver successful training programs for tactical athletes. A step-by-step approach helps readers eliminate guesswork when creating specialized training programs.

The second edition has been updated to reflect developments in tactical training research as well as the revised list of knowledge, skills, and abilities that individuals must know and demonstrate to pass the TSAC-F certification exam:

• New content addressing the risks and outcomes of overtraining
• New sections on the advantages of performing various physical activities and how lifestyle and occupational stress affect health, wellness, and performance
• New metrics on tactical program effectiveness and the impact on population performance
• New occupation-specific assessment protocols

The text includes several tests for each component of fitness, specific to each of the primary tactical fields. Written in the style of the TSAC-F exam, study questions at the end of each chapter test comprehension of important content. Photos throughout are accompanied by descriptions and instructions, clearly describing proper technique for exercises and drills for mobility, flexibility, strength, power, speed, agility, and aerobic endurance.

The goal of NSCA’s Essentials of Tactical Strength and Conditioning is to help prepare those seeking TSAC-F certification and to serve as a resource for professionals so that they can implement an optimal strength and conditioning program that will decrease injury risk and optimize performance for tactical athletes.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is the world’s leading organization in the field of sport conditioning. Drawing on the resources and expertise of the most recognized professionals in strength training and conditioning, sport science, performance research, education, and sports medicine, the NSCA is the world’s trusted source of knowledge and training guidelines for coaches and athletes. The NSCA provides the crucial link between the lab and the field.

Brent A. Alvar, PhD, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F,*D, FNSCA, is a professor and graduate program director in the department of kinesiology and the associate dean of research, grants, and partnerships in the college of health sciences at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California. Dr. Alvar is also a past president of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a member of the NSCA since 1996. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with distinction (CSCS,*D), a tactical strength and conditioning facilitator with distinction (TSAC-F,*D), and is recognized as a fellow of the NSCA (FNSCA).

Dr. Alvar’s research focus is on the dose response of resistance training, as well as the various components of exercise testing and prescription related to human performance and occupational preparedness. His teaching is centered on evidence-based practice, research methods, clinical exercise prescription, and sport and tactical strength and conditioning. Dr. Alvar spends the majority of his time guiding young scholars in their professional and research pursuits and feels this is the most important aspect of his career.

Katie Sell, PhD, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F,*D, FNSCA, is a professor and coordinator of the undergraduate exercise physiology and human anatomy and physiology programs in the department of allied health and kinesiology at Hofstra University. The editor in chief of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) TSAC Report, Dr. Sell is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with distinction (CSCS,*D), a tactical strength and conditioning facilitator with distinction (TSAC-F,*D), and is recognized as a fellow of the NSCA (FNSCA).

Dr. Sell has been a volunteer assistant coach for Hofstra University’s women’s tennis program, a member of the executive council of the NSCA’s tactical strength and conditioning special interest group, and a consultant to FireFit (an interagency wildland firefighter fitness task group). Her primary research interests are in fitness assessment and injury risk reduction among collegiate student athletes and in firefighter health, physical fitness, and exercise programming. Dr. Sell received her doctoral degree from the University of Utah, her master’s degree from Southern Illinois University, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

J. Jay Dawes, PhD, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, TSAC-F, FNSCA, is a professor of applied exercise science at Oklahoma State University and the codirector of the university’s Tactical Fitness and Nutrition Lab. Dr. Dawes has over 25 years of experience serving as an athletic performance coordinator, strength and conditioning coach, personal trainer, and educator. Throughout his career, he has worked with a wide range of populations, including collegiate and professional athletes as well as members of law enforcement, fire, and military organizations.

In addition to his applied work, Dr. Dawes regularly provides sport science support and education to elite teams and tactical units to enhance operational readiness and reduce injury risk. His research primarily focuses on improving health, fitness, and performance outcomes among tactical athletes, first responders, and athletes in traditional sports. Dr. Dawes has authored and coauthored numerous peer-reviewed publications, textbooks, and educational resources in the areas of strength and conditioning, human performance, and tactical athlete readiness. He has extensive expertise in designing and implementing evidence-based training methods and strategies, emphasizing practical approaches that translate directly to real-world scenarios.