Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance

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.

William J. Kraemer, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA, FACSM, acts as the senior advisor for sport performance and sport sciences at The Ohio State University and is a member of the performance innovation team for the university’s department of athletics. Although retired as a full professor, he still works as an adjunct professor as a research scientist in the department of human sciences at The Ohio State University, continuing his research and writing. He is a professor emeritus in the department of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut and holds an adjunct professorship in the school of medical and health sciences at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia. He has held full professorships at Pennsylvania State University, Ball State University, and the University of Connecticut as well as appointments at their medical schools. In 2016, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland for the worldwide impact of his research.

Dr. Kraemer has published 12 books and over 500 peer-reviewed papers in the scientific literature and a multitude of other educational publications. He is a fellow in several organizations, including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), International Society of Sports Nutrition (SSN), and American Nutrition Association (ANA), and he is a member of the American Physiological Society. He is a past president of the NSCA and has served on the board of trustees for the ACSM and has been a chapter president and honor award winner. Dr. Kraemer has received many other awards, including the NSCA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Outstanding Sport Scientist award was named in his honor in 2006. He was ranked as the top sport scientist in the world for over two decades. The University of Jyvaskyla’s University Medal was awarded to him in 2009 as the first non-Finnish recipient of this award. In 2020, he was honored with one of the highest awards by the ACSM: the Citation Award.

Nicholas A. Ratamess, PhD, CSCS,*D, FNSCA, is a professor in the department of kinesiology and health sciences at The College of New Jersey. His major research interest is examining physiological responses and adaptations to strength training and conditioning and sports supplementation. Dr. Ratamess has authored or coauthored more than 205 scientific investigations, educational articles, review papers, chapters, and books. He is currently the editor in chief of the NSCA’s Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. He also coauthored four position stands from the ACSM and the NSCA regarding progression models in resistance training and anabolic androgenic steroids and growth hormone use in athletes. Dr. Ratamess is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with distinction (CSCS,*D) and a fellow of the NSCA.

Thomas H. Newman, MS, CSCS, is a seasoned professional in human performance who currently holds the role of lead performance specialist at the Center for Sports Performance Research at Mass General Brigham Hospital. Having accumulated 15 years of valuable experience across both the private and college sectors, Newman brings a deep understanding and practical knowledge to his role. His academic background includes a BA from the University of Rhode Island and an MS from the University of Southern Connecticut, equipping him with a robust theoretical foundation. Newman's professional journey led him to Yale University, where he was named the first-ever director of sports performance and innovation. There, he oversaw all 32 varsity programs, leading the teams to unprecedented success, both on and off the field. Before his tenure at Yale, Newman exhibited his entrepreneurial prowess as the CEO of Athletic Standard, a tech startup with the mission of developing a global digital platform for athlete development and talent identification. Recognized by the NSCA with the certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) credential, Newman's commitment to his field is evident. His combination of academic knowledge, hands-on experience, and entrepreneurial spirit positions him as a respected figure in human performance.