intro
I’ve always had an affinity for books and started collecting strength and conditioning manuals about 12 years ago.
This has prompted me to establish the scc book club where I recommend and discuss various books that I think will be really useful for fitness professionals and enthusiasts alike.
You are reading: Strength and conditioning books
Although this article is about strength and conditioning manuals, the book club will recommend books on a wide range of topics:
- health and fitness.
- sports.
- marketing.
- business development.
and yes, although I’m a big fan of having a physical book in my hands. I have to admit that these days I struggle to find the time to sit down and read. so i use audible a lot and currently have over 1 month of total listening time.
one of the best things about audible is that we can easily give our academy members an audible membership or credits to buy the books on our reading/listening list. Join our newsletter for a chance to win!
In this article, I’ve chosen a diverse selection of just 10 strength and conditioning manuals + a bonus book. these are in no particular order. however, I have written a short paragraph for each.
I’ll most likely make multiple top 10 lists, since I could literally make a top 50. I think this is a great pick though, so let’s get started.
basic elements of strength and conditioning training
The Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning by Baechle and Earle is pretty much the bible of strength and conditioning, and I suggest all coaches have a copy – the fourth edition is currently available (Haff & Triplett).
The manual is over 600 pages long and covers all the key areas in great detail; if you are studying for your csc, the latest version of this manual is a must!
I’ve read this copy from cover to cover, which took me a month or two and was more of a challenge I set for myself about 9 years ago. however, I suggest you take your time and study specific sections.
It is more of a manual for trainers than for enthusiasts. however, if you’re willing to spend £70/$90 and want a real strength and conditioning textbook, then go ahead – it’s not a hard manual to understand, it’s just a bit more academic than some of the others. other manuals in this list.
initial strength
Starting Strength was the first strength manual I ever read and was what captivated me to the barbell.
Before joining the British Army, I competed in combat sports and spent much of my time teaching Muay Thai and boxing. In these sports, conditioning involves pad and bag work, lots of circuits and racing; Essentially, the training I did as a teenager was all old school conditioning, “rocky” style, no barbell strength training.
I recommend all coaches read starting strength as it gives great insight into the true “strength coach” side of things.
Starting Force is an easy read and something you can definitely read cover to cover. however, i would say that mark rippetoe has very different opinions on how certain lifts should be taught. for example, using the low bar back squat with the hip drive method. therefore, it should be noted that there are many ways to skin a cat.
You can also find starting strength in audible, which is great since there aren’t many strength and conditioning manuals out there.
science and practice of strength training
The next three manuals in this list create a trio that every serious strength and conditioning coach should own.
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these three books have been written by infamous russian sports scientists namely vladimir zatsiorsky and yuri verkhoshansky. therefore, I wouldn’t necessarily classify them as easy reads and some of the content will be beyond the reach of the average trainer.
In this manual, Zatsiorsky uses science to improve an athlete’s muscular strength and covers areas that have become defining principles within strength training, such as maximal, submaximal, repetitive, and dynamic effort methods.
zatsiorsky is a world-renowned sports biomechanist and former strength and conditioning consultant for the soviet union olympic teams. therefore, he is definitely someone to listen to!
supertraining
Supertraining was written by Mel Siff and Yuri Verkhoshansky.
I’m talking about mel siff when we get to the handbook of fitness facts and fallacies. however, supertraining and special training (the next manual) have to do with verkhoshansky’s work.
yuri verkhoshansky was a russian athletic trainer and sports scientist and is considered the godfather of plyometrics; he is famous for developing an advanced form of plyometrics known as the “shock method”.
supertraining is a massive manual at nearly 600 pages and packed with what can only be described as elite sports science and strength and conditioning content. however, it is a bit difficult to read; it will take you a while to read this manual!
This is not a manual for the casual reader. however, trainers should only pick a couple of pages at a time and learn something new; Although these manuals can be very expensive, don’t be afraid to break out your highlighter and stick on sticky notes.
special strength training manual for coaches
This manual was written by Yuri Verkhoshansky and his daughter Natalia.
special strength training (sst) essentially means using specialized resistance exercises to improve an athlete’s proficiency in their sport discipline.
This is a must read for experienced coaches and athletes as it covers sst methods for resistance training, jump training and combined methods detailed as:
- the complex method.
- the stimulation method.
- the contrast method.
- the circuit method.
- the strength-aerobic method.
This manual will definitely educate the reader on countless advanced training techniques that are evidence-based.
fitness facts and fallacies
I really struggled to find a copy of Facts and Fallacies of Fitness in the UK, but eventually found a second-hand copy on eBay.
this manual by mel siff, who worked with verkhoshansky on supertaining is a real gem. is packed with knowledge in an easy-to-read format with lots of fun cartoon illustrations.
The late Mel Siff had a Ph.D. in Physiology and a Masters in Applied Mathematics. he also competed in karate, trampoline, track and field, powerlifting and powerlifting – smart and strong!
the manual busts a lot of myths about the right and wrong way to do things, which for the most part eradicates the scaremongering surrounding squatting and loading the spine and knees etc.
power: a scientific approach
Although I felt some of the information in this book was a little outdated, it is packed with useful infomation.
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the late frederick hatfield was a man to be admired and this book (another one you can read cover to cover) is worth reading; This book followed his best-selling book: Bodybuilding: A Scientific Approach.
frederick hatfield was nicknamed dr. squat he was an American world powerlifting champion and set a squat world record by lifting 460 kg (1,014 lb) in the 100 kg (220 lb) weight class. this at the time was the heaviest squat in history, regardless of body weight.
strength and conditioning for young athletes
If asked to recommend a manual that covers youth strength and conditioning, this is the manual I usually recommend.
covers areas such as:
- talent identification.
- motor skill development.
- strength, power, and plyometrics.
- speed and agility.
- metabolic conditioning.
- mobility and flexibility.
- periodization.
- weightlifting myths.
- overtraining and prevention of injuries.
- nutrition.
The book is full of references after each chapter, since all the information is completely based on evidence. however, the manual is written in an easy-to-read style and therefore I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the development of young athletes.
development speed
The final two books in the Top 10 list are both NSCA books from their Sport Performance Series.
Much of the content in these books deals with the fundamentals of strength training and conditioning, which also bears the label of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. however, I find these smaller books to be an easy read and therefore ideal for any trainer or enthusiast.
they are packed with drills and exercises and therefore act as excellent references.
other titles include:
- developing power.
- developing agility and speed.
- developing the core.
building resistance
Developing Endurance is part of the Sport Performance Series. However, I believe it deserves it’s own mention on the list as it is a comprehensive 300 pages and covers a subject many coaches neglect i.e. Endurance – the metabolic conditioning side of things.
Developing the energy systems is something I feel a lot of strength and conditioning coaches pay too little attention to, which is why metabolic conditioning is considered one of the big 8 in scc.
bonus book: the force & conditioning trainer guide for microsoft excel
Although this is a top 10 list, I wanted to add this manual as a bonus book because it is so different from the rest.
microsoft excel is a widely used tool by strength and conditioning coaches, and those who learn to use it effectively will literally save themselves hours upon hours.
This manual is a step-by-step guide to microsoft excel (specifically for trainers) with many illustrations. gives you the basics to create stylish and functional programming templates, and also progresses to more advanced features using formulas, etc.
if you’re going to program in excel, get a copy of this book.
a word from the author
Hey, thanks for reading my article, I hope you found it useful.
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coach curtis
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