What Is Evidence-Based Practice in Strength and Conditioning?

ABSTRACT As the field of strength and conditioning (S&C) continues to grow, there are noticeable increases in jobs, salaries, research, and media coverage of malpractice; it is therefore prudent to define evidence-based practice (EBP) for S&C coaches. In line with clinicians and medical practitioners, this will help guide best practice and inform stakeholders on the design process of the various training and testing interventions implemented, to improve the physical capacity of athletes. Thus, the aim of this article is to define EBP in S&C, and in doing so, the following definition was provided: In strength and conditioning, evidence-based practice involves integrating scientific research with coach expertise such that the individual needs of athletes are met in terms of physicality, values, preferences, and constraints.