Academic sports science books are a great investment in your future. Do you study sports science or are you thinking of going to university to study this exciting subject? Do you want to know which are the best sports science books? Well, we’ve compiled a list of the most widely adopted academic texts across Europe.
top ten sports science academic books
We have produced hundreds of academic textbooks covering a variety of topics including strength and conditioning, physical therapy, management, physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and many more.
You are reading: Best exercise science books
1. basics of strength and conditioning training
Fundamentals of Strength and Conditioning Training, 4th Edition is the gold standard of all S&C books and is at the top of our list. Developed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Greg Haff PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA, and N. travis triplett, phd, cscs,*d, fnsca. these are some of the biggest names in strength and conditioning. This book is adopted by universities around the world and is one of our best-selling books of all time. If you’re an aspiring S&C trainer, this book is essential (as the title suggests). This book is also highly recommended for anyone who works with athletes or clients in a fitness environment.
The book has 24 chapters covering a variety of topics including structure and function of body systems, bioenergetics, adaptations to anaerobic/aerobic programs, and much more. the 4th edition has two chapters on nutrition, which are expanded from the 3rd edition.
the editors
This comprehensive resource was created by 30 expert contributors in the field and edited by Greg Haff and Travis Triplett. Haff is President of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and Senior Associate Editor of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. He has fantastic experience working with elite athletes, including the USA Powerlifting Team. uu. and Australia, and elite athletes from a variety of sports, including rugby, afl, nfl and basketball. He has won numerous awards for his work, including Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year from the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) and a William J. Outstanding Sports Scientist Kraemer Award. Triplett is another winner of the NSCA William J. Outstanding Sports Scientist Kraemer Award. He has served on two panels for NASA, one to develop resistance exercise countermeasures for microgravity environments for the International Space Station, and was a sports physiology research assistant in the US. uu. olympic training center The doctor. Triplett is currently a Senior Associate Editor for Magazine of Strength & Conditioning Research and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Distinction as well as a Coach for the USA Weightlifting Club. uu.
auxiliaries
Fundamentals of Strength and Conditioning Training, Fourth Edition offers an expanded companion package. Below is an example of one of the resistance training videos, here you can see the athlete performing a back squat with a trainer watching her.
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2. physiology of sport and exercise
We have numerous excellent physiology books that are adopted by universities around the world, however, the new seventh edition of sport and exercise physiology, the seventh edition, is currently the most adopted. This resource offers a simple way for students to develop an understanding of the body’s abilities to perform various types and intensities of exercise and sport, adapt to stressful situations, and improve its physiological capabilities. Instructors and students alike often cite the easy-to-read format as one of the reasons this is their favorite physiology book.
the author
w. Larry Kenney Ph.D., Jack H. Wilmore, PhD, and David L. costill, phd have come together to create this exceptional resource. Kenney specializes in researching the effects of aging and disease states such as hypertension on the control of blood flow to human skin and has been continuously funded by NIH since 1983. He also studies the effects of heat, cold, and dehydration on various aspects of health, exercise and sports performance. he is the author of more than 200 articles, books, book chapters and other publications. Wilmore has published more than 320 peer-reviewed research articles and 15 books on exercise physiology. he was one of the five principal investigators of the heritage family study, a large multicenter clinical trial that investigated the possible genetic basis of variability in responses of physiological measures and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes to exercise training of resistance. Wilmore’s research interests include determining the role of exercise in the prevention and control of both obesity and coronary heart disease. he has also investigated in depth the mechanisms that explain the alterations in physiological function with training and detraining and the factors that limit the performance of elite athletes. Costill has authored and co-authored more than 430 publications throughout his career, including six books and articles in peer-reviewed and secular journals. he was the original editor-in-chief of the international journal of sports medicine for 12 years. Costill is one of the most decorated authors in physiology and has won a list of honors that includes ACSM Citation and Honor Awards, the Ohio State University Outstanding Professional Achievement Award, the State University Ball President’s Award, and the Cuyahoga Falls Public Schools Distinguished Alumni Award. Many of his former students are now leaders in the fields of exercise physiology, medicine, and science.
auxiliaries
The web-based plugins that accompany this text are popular with students and instructors/teachers. In addition to new animations, videos, and audio clips, the web study guide includes comprehension quizzes and an image bank.
course instructors can request a desktop copy on our desktop copy request form
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3. fundamentals of sport and exercise psychology
psychology is another area of human kinetics. We pride ourselves on being leaders in the market. just like physiology, we have many fantastic books written by extremely skilled authors. Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 7th Edition is a must have for any college student of sport psychology, it’s as simple as that. there’s a good chance this book is on your reading list. year after year, edition after edition, it continues to be one of our most adopted titles. This text offers both students and new practitioners a comprehensive view of sport and exercise psychology. draws connections between research and practice and captures the excitement of the world of sport and exercise. Now in its seventh edition, the authors have incorporated comments from teachers and students to create a text that builds on previous editions. In-depth learning aids have been updated and more emphasis has been placed on hot and prominent topics such as mindfulness, cultural diversity, ethics, and transitions in sport.
the authors
authors robert s. weinberg, phd and daniel gould, phd are internationally respected in the field of sport psychology. Weinberg has more than 30 years of experience in both the academic and applied aspects of sport psychology. He has written numerous research articles, including more than 150 peer-reviewed articles in academic journals, as well as books, book chapters, and applied articles for coaches, athletes, and sportspeople. Weinberg was voted one of the top 10 sports psychologists in North America by his peers. He is past president of the American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). he is also a certified aasp consultant, where he works with athletes of all sports and ages. Gould has taught sports psychology for more than 35 years. An active researcher, Gould was the founding co-editor of The Sport Psychologist and has published more than 200 articles on sport psychology. he is best known for conducting applied research that links research and practice. Like Weinberg, he was voted one of the top 10 sports psychologists in North America and is internationally known, having presented his work in more than 30 countries.
auxiliaries
auxiliary have been developed and increased. Over 40 new video clips have been integrated into the web study guide to better demonstrate the basic concepts covered in this book.
course instructors can request a desktop copy on our desktop copy request form
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4. science and application of high intensity interval training
This book was published in 2019 and was an instant success. Adopted by Universities all over the world it also became a must-have resource for any S&C coach. This title is also popular with individuals who are fitness enthusiasts.
The popularity of high-intensity interval training (hiit), which consists primarily of repeated bursts of high-intensity exercise, continues to grow because its effectiveness and efficiency have been proven by both elite athletes and general fitness enthusiasts . Surprisingly few resources have attempted to explain both the science behind the hiit movement and its sport-specific application to the training of athletes. over time, this book could reach the number 1 spot.
the authors
authors paul laursen and martin buchheit are legends in the industry. they are expert level hiit researchers as well as professionals.
paul laursen, phd, is an endurance coach, sports scientist, and adjunct professor at auckland university of technology in new zealand. he earned his doctorate in exercise physiology from the university of queensland, previously manager of physiology for high-performance sports in new zealand.
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dr. Laursen has published more than 125 peer-reviewed manuscripts in exercise and sport science journals; His publications with co-author Martin Buchheit are among the most cited in the world.
martin buchheit, phd, is a sports scientist, strength and conditioning coach, and director of performance for the paris saint-germain soccer club. he is also adjunct associate professor of exercise science at the university of victoria in australia. He previously worked as an exercise physiologist for the aspire academy in qatar.
buchheit received his doctorate in physiology from the university of strasbourg in france. She has published more than 160 peer-reviewed manuscripts, and much of her research focuses on high-intensity interval training. The training tools she has developed include the widely used 30-15 intermittent fitness test and the 5-5 running test.
There are also some fantastic contributors to this book, including:
johann bilsborough: director of performance at new england patriots. high performance manager/director of sports science at the boston celtics. he previously worked in nrl (rugby league), afl (australian rules) mma and boxing.
nicholas gill: head of s&c at the most famous rugby nation in the world: the new zealand all blacks. During his time there, he led the All Blacks to more than 130 test victories and two consecutive World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015.
duncan french – currently vice president of performance, ufc. Previously, he worked three Olympic cycles for Team GB as S&C Leader at the English Institute of Sport. Furthermore, he previously worked as head of S&C at Newcastle United FC.
dave hamilton – former head of s&c for the gb women’s field hockey medal winning team. current deputy athletic director of applied health and performance sciences at pennsylvania state university.
jamie stanley – sports physiologist. he works for the australian cycling and swimming teams with olympic, commonwealth and world champion athletes who currently hold world records. Jamie is also a Research Associate at the University of South Australia.
plus many more elite trainers.
see your hiit questions answered by martin buchheit our marketing manager, ryan met martin while he was in the uk this spring.
course instructors can request a desktop copy on our desktop copy request form
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5. research methods in physical activity
another book in its seventh edition, so you know you’re doing something right. This book is used by a wide variety of universities for a variety of courses. The book is for undergraduate or graduate students studying physical activity, exercise/sport science, physical conditioning, strength and conditioning, physical therapy, or rehabilitation. this text is also regularly purchased by professionals working in those areas. the content of the seventh edition maintains and extends the logical content progression that has made physical activity research methods the leading text in the field, as a result, this seventh edition continues to be one of our best-selling books and scholarly texts key code. This book provides step-by-step information for every aspect of the research process. Research and real-world examples are used along with photographs, anecdotes, and humorous stories, making the book engaging and familiar to students. The seventh edition has updated information and techniques for electronic searches to ensure that students use the best research practices. This book also offers new information on meta-analysis and the benefits of journal writing, as well as an explanation of qualitative and mixed methods research approaches, in addition to quantitative approaches. this book also pays special attention to ethical issues.
the authors
jerry r. Thomas, Edd, Jack K. Nelson, Edd, and Stephen Silverman, Edd. All three authors are true seasoned industry professionals with over 100 years of professional experience between them. Thomas is the author of over 200 publications, 120 of which are peer-reviewed with numerous contributions on research methods. thomas has been editor-in-chief of research quarterly for exercise and sport and a reviewer for most of the major kinesiology (sports science) research journals and numerous psychology journals. Nelson conducted and published research and taught research methods for 35 years. he has been an advisor to more than 50 doctoral theses and more than 50 master’s theses. he has authored more than 80 publications and has served as editor for several research journals. Silverman has been teaching and writing about research methods for more than 30 years. She has published more than 75 research articles in addition to many books and book chapters.
auxiliaries
To assist instructors and students, Research Methods in Physical Activity, Seventh Edition, includes a set of ancillary materials including a presentation pack and image bank.
course instructors can request a desktop copy on our desktop copy request form
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6. science and development of muscle hypertrophy
Released in 2016, brad schoenfeld’s hypertrophy book was an instant hit with sports educators around the world. This book is a comprehensive compilation of science-based principles to help professionals build muscle hypertrophy in athletes and clients. With over 825 references and guidelines applied at all times, no other resource offers a comparable amount of content focused solely on muscle hypertrophy. The book covers the role of resistance training, program design, and nutrition. if you want to learn how to get bigger, this is the book for you.
ryan followed the linear periodized program, look at his progress.
the author
brad schoenfeld, phd, is widely regarded as one of the foremost authorities on the fitness industry and has been featured in numerous publications, from cosmopolitan to the new york times to musclemag. He is currently a columnist for Muscle Building Magazine and serves as a regular fitness expert for numerous popular websites such as T-Nation. Schoenfeld has published more than 100 peer-reviewed research articles on exercise and sports nutrition, many in high-impact journals, as well as several textbook chapters. He serves as deputy editor-in-chief of the NSCA journal of strength and conditioning, as well as being a member of the editorial advisory board of the journal of the international society of sports nutrition and the journal of strength and conditioning research. he is also the author of the m.a.x. muscle plan, the bible of home training for women and strong & sculpted.
auxiliaries
This book comes with a free image bank. this includes most of the full-color art, photos, and tables of the text. images are often used to create handouts and enhance powerpoint presentations for students and instructors.
course instructors can request a desktop copy on our desktop copy request form
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7. motor learning and performance
an accessible and easy-to-understand academic text. Building an easy-to-understand conceptual model of motor performance on the road, this text describes the principles of motor skill learning. develops a strong understanding of how skills are acquired and honed with practice and shows students how to apply concepts to a variety of real-world settings. incorporating familiar settings brings the material to life. Written for those who appreciate and want to learn more about high-skill activity, this book is predominantly adopted by instructors who teach sports science, coaching, and physical education. the book covers coordination, timing of movements and describes how experience is gained. the first part investigates the principles of human performance, progressively developing a conceptual model of human actions. In the second part, the text uses the conceptual model to impart an understanding of human motor learning processes.
This new sixth edition was published in October 2019. The new edition has been carefully revised to incorporate the most important research findings in the field and is supplemented with practical situations to facilitate a stronger link between the principles based on research and practical applications.
the authors
ricardo a. Schmidt, Ph.D., and Timothy D. Lee, PhD are incredibly experienced and proven scientists and have worked together on this textbook. Known as one of the leaders in motor behavior research, Dr. schmidt has over 35 years of experience in this area and has been the subject of numerous publications. The originator of schema theory, Schmidt founded the Journal of Motor Behavior in 1969 and was its editor for 11 years. he authored the first edition of motor control and learning in 1982.
dr. Schmidt is the author of every book on motor learning and performance since the first edition in 1991. Schmidt received an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, in recognition of his work. He is a member of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA), where he served as president in 1982 and received the organization’s two highest honors: the Distinguished Scholar Award for Lifetime Contributions to Research in motor control and learning (in 1992) and the president’s award for significant contributions to the development and growth of naspspa (in 2013).
timothy lee has published numerous articles in motor behavior and psychology journals since 1979. more recently, he has contributed as an editor to both the journal of motor behavior and research quarterly for exercise and sport and as a member of the editorial board of the psychological review. In 1980, Lee received the inaugural Scapps Young Scientist Award and in 2011 he was inducted into the society, his highest honor. then, in 1991-92, he received a senior research fellowship from the dienst onderzoekscoordinatie, catholic university in leuven, belgium. In 2005 he presented a prestigious senior scientific conference on Naspspa.
auxiliaries
For the fifth edition, the add-ons have an enhanced web study guide that offers a principles-to-application exercise and multiple interactive activities for each chapter. the image bank includes most of the figures, photos of content and tables of the text, these are ordered by chapter.
course instructors can request a desktop copy on our desktop copy request form
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8. research methods in biomechanics
biomechanics is a subject area where human kinetics has several excellent books. Research Methods in Biomechanics, 2nd Edition is the most widely adopted. This textbook demonstrates the range of research techniques available and how to best apply this knowledge to ensure valid data collection. In the highly technical field of biomechanics, research methods are updated frequently as the speed and sophistication of software and hardware technologies increase. As a result, the second edition includes new information detailing advanced analytical tools for investigating human motion.
the authors
With five authors and nine contributors, you can be sure this book features a variety of experts in the field of research and biomechanics. the authors are d. Gordon E. Robertson, PhD, Graham E. caldwell, phd, joseph hamill, phd, and gary kamen, phd robertson is professor emeritus and fellow of the canadian society for biomechanics, wrote introduction to biomechanics for the analysis of human motion. He conducts research on human locomotion and athletic activities and is the author of bioproc3 analog data analysis software. Caldwell, Associate Professor and Fellow of the Canadian Society for Biomechanics. he has won the new investigator award from the canadian society for biomechanics and in 1998 won the outstanding professor award from the university of massachusetts school of public health and health sciences. He served as associate editor for Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Hamill is a professor and member of the research consortium, the international society for biomechanics in sports, the canadian society for biomechanics, the american college of sports medicine, and the national academy of kinesiology. He is co-author of the popular undergraduate textbook Biomechanical Basis of Human Movement. he teaches all over the world, including at the university of massachusetts, usa. and is adjunct professor at the university of edinburgh, scotland and the university of limerick, ireland and distinguished research professor at republic polytechnic, singapore. kamen is a professor and member of the american alliance for health, physical education and recreation and dance (aapherd) and the american college of sports medicine. He is the author of an undergraduate textbook on kinesiology, Fundamentals of Exercise Science, as well as a primer on electromyography, Basics of Electromyography. he was president of the aapherd research consortium. Whittlesey is an independent technology consultancy specializing in athletic training (physical therapy), sporting goods and clinical applications. the nine additional contributors include some of the best biomechanics and statistical researchers from around the world.
auxiliaries
This textbook includes access to biomechanics research software designed by C-Motion, Visual3D Educational Edition. This allows users to explore the full range of visual3d professional software modeling capabilities on sample data files, as well as view visualizations for other data sets.
course instructors can request a desktop copy on our desktop copy request form
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9. sports nutrition
a staple for academic sports nutrition courses. sport nutrition, 3rd edition presents the principles, background, and rationale for current nutritional guidelines specifically for athletes. Using a physiological basis, this text provides an in-depth look at the science behind sports nutrition. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of nutrition as it relates to sport and the influence of nutrition on exercise performance, training, and recovery. Instructors love this book too, we often get great feedback on the content and structure. The book provides a great in-depth analysis and breakdown of nutritional macros, overtraining, weight management, and immune function. it is found in universities around the world, but it is also a common reference point for sports nutritionists, dieticians and sports scientists. the 3rd edition was published in 2019 and contains revised and expanded information on personalized nutrition along with guidelines for carbohydrate intake, protein metabolism, molecular biology, and immunonutrition.
the authors
Without a doubt, two of the best sports nutritionists have teamed up to create this widely adopted textbook. asker jeukendrup, phd and michael gleeson, phd are British researchers but big global names. Jeukendrup is an active researcher credited with many of the new discoveries in sports nutrition in the last decade. he is a registered sports and exercise nutritionist and professor of exercise metabolism. Professor Jeukendrup is in high demand among elite athletes and clubs around the world. he has worked with the rabobank professional cycling team, chelsea football club, uk athletics, the british olympic association, many african endurance runners and several olympic and world champions. Jeukendrup himself is a more than competent endurance athlete, having completed multiple Ironman events. he is also popular on social media. you may have even seen some of his infographics on twitter.
gleeson has published numerous articles in scientific and medical journals. He has a particular interest and expertise in the effects of exercise, training, and nutrition on immune function and has been Vice President and President of the International Society for Exercise and Immunology. Currently teaching at Loughborough University, he has worked with numerous world-class athletes and professional football clubs.
auxiliaries
This textbook includes a free instructor’s guide, trial pack, and image bank.
course instructors can request a desktop copy on our desktop copy request form
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10. periodization
The needs of athletes are diverse, this book will help you get the most out of your training. Whether you or your athletes need to peak at a certain time of year or maintain good fitness levels for a certain period of time, this book will help you understand the science behind periodization. This classic text combines the core concepts of periodization and training theory with contemporary advances in sports science, physiology, and coaching, making it used by a variety of students and professionals. Periodization 5th Edition has become a leading resource and reference guide on periodization for sports scientists, coaches (especially strength and conditioning coaches), and athletes around the world. world. since the introduction of this groundbreaking training theory by tudor o. bompa in 1963, periodization has become the foundation of training for every serious athlete. the book has been translated into 9 different languages and is adopted by universities around the world.
the authors
this is g. Gregory Haff’s second appearance on this list, as he is also the author of Fundamentals of Strength and Conditioning Training Fourth Edition. haff was associated with tudor or. Bompa, PhD, who is recognized as the world’s leading expert in periodization training. He developed the concept of periodization of strength in Romania in 1963 while helping Eastern Bloc countries dominate the athletic world. Since then, Bompa has used the EL system in the training of 11 World and Olympic Championship medalists and elite athletes around the world. he has given presentations on periodization training in more than 30 countries. His publications, lectures, and ideas are greatly appreciated and sought after by many of the top professional athletes and coaches.
course instructors can request a desktop copy on our desktop copy request form
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