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All IUSCA IQF certifications from Level 2 onwards will now be validated through the international register, giving employers, insurers, universities and other stakeholders a direct way to confirm the authenticity and current status of professional credentials. The International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA), in collaboration with the International Qualification Framework and the IQF Independent Regulatory Council (IQF-IRC), has launched the new IU

Please join us in welcoming Dr Jeremy Moody as IUSCA Director of Industry Engagement. Jeremy brings more than three decades of experience spanning academia, elite sport, professional leadership, and practitioner development, making him exceptionally well placed to support the next phase of IUSCA's international growth. He is currently Reader in Applied Strength and Conditioning and Programme Director for the MSc Strength and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University, wh

The IUSCA's International Journal of Strength and Conditioning is the world leading Diamond Open Access journal in S&C and Sport Science. We have recently published a new article by Michalak, M., Ryan, C., Ehlert, A., & Cronin, J. (2026). titled "Flywheel Resistance Training for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rehabilitation” Abstract The tearing or rupturing of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has become an increasingly common injury in athletes, particularly in sports that r

Congratulations to Sheffield Hallam University on achieving IUSCA Degree Accreditation for its MSc Strength and Conditioning Coaching. IUSCA Degree Accreditation recognises universities that go beyond teaching fixed methodologies alone. It recognises programmes that develop the judgement, decision-making, and explanatory problem-solving skills required for effective strength and conditioning practice in real-world environments. By aligning with the principles of the Internati

What does it take to prepare athletes for the world's biggest sporting event? Join Ted Morrison, Director of Sports Performance at the United States Performance Center, as he provides an inside look at the planning, decision making, and performance strategies used to support Team USA athletes in the lead up to Olympic competition. Drawing on his experience working with elite performers, Ted will discuss the practical realities of preparing athletes for the Olympic Games, incl

The IQF Level Descriptors are designed to span the full breadth of the strength and conditioning profession, from the earliest stages of foundational practice through to the highest levels of thought leadership. This is possible because the framework is method-agnostic. It does not require practitioners to adopt a particular training system, teach a specific exercise, follow a fixed model, or conform to a single methodology. Instead, it focuses on the quality of reasoning, ju

The IUSCA's International Journal of Strength and Conditioning is the world leading Diamond Open Access journal in S&C and Sport Science. We have recently published a new article by Yang, Y., Johnson, Q., Philipp, N., Eserhaut, D., Kenn, J., Cabarkapa, D., & Fry, A. (2026). titled "Physical Profile of Strongman and Strongwoman Athletes” Abstract While strongmen and strongwomen are among the strongest athletes in all sports, limited literature is available pertaining to the ph

The IQF Level Descriptors are grounded in a critical rationalist view of practice. At the centre of this view is the idea that there is a physical reality, and that all aspects of S&C practice take place within it. Athletes are real biological systems. Training interventions create real physical effects. Practice and performance environments involve real constraints, trade-offs, and consequences. This means that all aspects of S&C can be framed as problems to be understood an

The IUSCA's International Journal of Strength and Conditioning is the world leading Diamond Open Access journal in S&C and Sport Science. We have recently published a new article by Moore, L., Drury, B., & Hearn, A. (2026). titled "Hitting the Brakes in Soccer: Individualised Thresholds for Assessing High-Intensity Decelerations during Matches” Abstract Training with optimum power load (OPL) was shown to result in improved lower limb strength. However, recent study has recomm

Opportunity for IUSCA Accredited Practitioner: Assistant Director of Olympic Sports Performance at Northwestern University

One of the central ideas in the IQF Level Descriptors is that progression in S&C should not be understood simply as the accumulation of methods, exercises, facts, or credentials. At the early stages of practice, rule-based approaches are often necessary. Practitioners need structure, guidance, and externally defined outcomes to operate consistently and safely. As practitioners develop, however, competence increasingly depends on the ability to define problems clearly, reason

The IUSCA's International Journal of Strength and Conditioning is the world leading Diamond Open Access journal in S&C and Sport Science. We have recently published a new article by Chua, T. K. H., Kong, P. W., & Lum, D. (2026). titled "Effects of Optimum Power Load vs Mixed Model Training Methods on Lower Limb Strength and Dynamic Performance in Female Athletes” Abstract Training with optimum power load (OPL) was shown to result in improved lower limb strength. However, rece

The International Qualification Framework (IQF) is built on a clear view of knowledge, practice, and professional development in strength and conditioning. At its core, the IQF is grounded in the ideas of realism, critical rationalism, problem-solving, and continual error correction. This means: ✅S&C deals with real biological and physical systems that can, in principle, be understood and influenced ✅the aims of practice can be framed as meaningful problems to be solved ✅bett

The IUSCA's International Journal of Strength and Conditioning is the world leading Diamond Open Access journal in S&C and Sport Science. We have recently published a new article by Bell, J., Travis, E., & Jones, A. (2026). titled "A Retrospective Self-Reported Audit of Injuries Amongst Grappling Athletes Competing in the United Kingdom” Abstract Purpose: This study aimed to estimate the incidence, prevalence, type, and mechanism of injuries among grappling athletes in the Un

The IUSCA's International Journal of Strength and Conditioning is the world leading Diamond Open Access journal in S&C and Sport Science. We have recently published a new article by Nightingale, S., Hughes, J., De Ste Croix, M., & Pfeifer, C. (2026). titled "A Framework Guide for the Selection of External Load Metrics in Ice Hockey” Abstract External workload monitoring has become commonplace in many sports, with staff looking to leverage the information gained to manipulate

At the IUSCA International Conference on Strength and Conditioning 2026, we were honoured to announce the Glenn Corcoran Memorial Award for Applied Strength and Conditioning Practice. The inaugural award was presented in memory of Glenn Corcoran, who sadly passed away last year. Glenn dedicated more than 30 years to the strength and conditioning profession, earning international respect as a coach, educator, mentor, and leader. His impact extended across elite sport, coach de

The IUSCA International Conference on Strength and Conditioning returned this weekend at Leeds Beckett University, bringing together coaches, sport scientists, academics, students, and industry leaders from across the UK and around the world. The conference featured presentations from an outstanding line-up of speakers, including Derek Hansen, John Noonan, Paul Comfort, Mark Campbell, Tim Suchomel, Alex Wolf, and Joe Kenn. Attendees also took part in a roundtable discussion h

As part of the IUSCA International Conference on Strength and Conditioning 2026, we are pleased to be joined by a range of organisations supporting strength and conditioning, sport science, performance technology, education, publishing, and professional development. Delegates will have the opportunity to meet our sponsors and exhibitors throughout the day, learn more about their work, and explore the products, services, and opportunities they provide across the S&C professi

The IUSCA has published a new white paper introducing the IQF Level Descriptors, providing a clearer framework for understanding progression in strength and conditioning practice.

The IUSCA's International Journal of Strength and Conditioning is the world leading Diamond Open Access journal in S&C and Sport Science. We have recently published a new article by Medler, S. (2026). titled "A Retrospective Analysis of Powerlifting Performances in the U.S. (1995 - 2005)” Abstract In this retrospective study, powerlifting performances in the United States from 1995 – 2005 were taken from annual top 100 rankings published in Powerlifting USA magazine. The ran