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NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching study materials
NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching study resources

NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching: The Teacher/Coach and Physical Conditioning

NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

All guide sections

The Teacher/Coach and Physical Conditioning

What this domain tests

Conditioning questions test training principles, youth-specific safety, and injury prevention-not just workout design.

Training principles

  • SAID: specific adaptations to imposed demands; training must match the sport's movements and energy systems.
  • Overload and progression: increase load gradually. Reversibility means fitness declines when training stops.
  • Individual differences: chronological age is not training age; adjust for growth spurts and experience.
  • Apply FITT: frequency, intensity, time, and type.

Programming

  • Warm-up: dynamic and sport-specific for 5–15 minutes; save long static stretching for after activity.
  • Strength: teach technique first, supervise, progress loads, include full range of motion and spotting; avoid maximal 1RM testing in untrained youth.
  • Cardio: build an aerobic base, then add anaerobic and speed work; plyometrics need good landing mechanics and low youth volume.
  • Recovery: teens need about 8–10 hours of sleep; watch for overtraining-performance drop, mood changes, persistent soreness, sleep problems.

Safety protocols

  • Heat: acclimatize 7–14 days, modify intensity, provide fluids and shade; exertional heat stroke means cool first, transport second.
  • Concussion: remove from play, no same-day return, written clearance per state law.
  • Lightning: thunder heard means suspend; wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder.
  • Sickle cell trait: modify conditioning and stop for unusual pain or cramping.

Worked example

A 15-year-old soccer player adds 5 a.m. lifting to preseason doubles. Reasoning: sleep loss plus cumulative load raises injury and illness risk. The coach reduces added volume, moves strength work after school, and monitors sleep, soreness, and performance. Conditioning must fit maturation and recovery, not just motivation.

Traps that cost marks

Static stretching as the main warm-up; 1RM testing for beginners; 'no pain, no gain'; one workout for all; ignoring heat or lightning policy; same-day concussion return.