This is the loose-leaf version of Developing the Athlete, which offers students a less expensive, printed version of the text.

Over the past decade, the complexity of athlete development has increased, and sport science has become enthralled with metrics and genetics. While an abundance of information has emerged, there is still a lack of practical guidance on how to integrate this information with training to help athletes achieve their potential. Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance brings much-needed clarity, providing a proven blueprint for bringing together the many fields related to sport science via an athlete development team that navigates the day-to-day development of each athlete.

Developed by a team of renowned authors including William Kraemer, one of the most prolifically published sport scientists in history Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance is the first resource of its kind. It explains the integration of sport science through the development of an athlete development team, implementing a process of testing, evaluating, assessing, and monitoring athlete training and performance. You will learn how data generated by the athlete development team are translated into training programs that promote the physical and psychological development an athlete needs to compete and succeed at every level of competition. You will also find step-by-step explanations of how to create a testing fingerprint unique to each athlete, as well as case studies and success stories that demonstrate how the concepts in the book have been experienced in real life.

Get a better understanding of how the use of sport science can improve the skills needed for long-term athlete development. Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance will help all types of sport performance professionals prioritize and apply the three Cs credentials, competence, and commitment so you can tap into known scientific principles and practices to develop a path for success for all your athletes.

Earn continuing education credits/units! A continuing education exam that uses this book is also available. It may be purchased separately or as part of a package that includes both the book and exam.


Chapter 1. Developing the Human Machine
Factors Influencing Player Development and Performance
Alignment in the Player Development Program
Factors Affecting Sport Performance
The Developmental Pathways
Development of the Athlete From Youth to Adulthood

Chapter 2. Player Profiles, Sport Matching, and the Player Development Team
Program Alignment
The Player Development Team Model
Units in the Player Development Team
Level of Competition
Determining Sport Demands
Impact of Athlete to Sport to Position Matching

Chapter 3. Testing and Assessments in Player Development
Setting the Standards for Testing and Assessments
Preparing for the Testing Sessions
Testing Protocols
Testing Organization
Choice of Tests for the Player Composite
Development of the Player Composite
Testing Athletes

Chapter 4. Understanding the Workout Stimuli: Impact on the Athlete Composite
Size Principle Understanding Is Crucial to Practice
The Exercise Stimuli Create an Exercise Drug
Safety for the Athlete Is Priority One
The Stimulus-Response-Adaptation Cycle
Program Variables in Training Program Design
Variation in Training Programs Mediating Recovery and Performance
Flexible Nonlinear Periodization
Defaults in Nonlinear Periodization Models
Time Lines for the Adaptive Progress
The Acute Exercise Response
Chronic Training Adaptations

Chapter 5. Monitoring and Accounting in Player Development
The Importance of Proper Monitoring
Skill Sets Needed
Responsibilities of the Athlete
Decisions on What Data Need to Be Entered
Data Input and Quality Entry
Reports to Coaches and Athletes

Chapter 6. Interpreting and Evaluating Testing Results of the Athlete Composite
Roles of Player Development Team
Sources of Knowledge
Understanding Context of Training Step and Target Goals
Organizing the Database
Looking to Analyze the Data
Interpreting the Results

Chapter 7. Training and Recovery Approaches in Player Development
Importance of Individualization
Training Program Variation
Understanding the Exercise Stimuli Variables in Workout Design
Rest and Recovery
Sleep
Effective Interventions for Enhancing Recovery
Popular Recovery Technologies
Training Approaches for Different Elements in Player Development
Methods of Program Variation

Chapter 8. Looking Back and Ahead at the Road for Player Development
The Conceptual Model of Player Development
Historical Models Can Provide Object Lessons for Implementation
Academic and Research Influences
Influence of the Strength and Conditioning Coach
Player Development Models in the United States
Sport Analytics and Technology: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Historically Proven Programs to Fit Any Paradigm
Future Challenges for Strength and Conditioning and Sport Performance Professionals
Flexible Nonlinear Programming Another Historical Look
The Post-Competitive Career