NSCA CSCS PRACTICE QUESTIONS
(PRACTICAL APPLIED) WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
A basketball team, when participating in a speed and agility training session, performs a
deceleration drill at three-quarter speed and take more than 8 steps to come to a stop.
What change in the activity should be provided?
a. run at half speed and stop within three steps
b. run at three-quarter speed and stop within five steps
c. run at half speed and stop within 7 steps - Correct Answers -a. run at half speed and
stop within three steps
Which of the following is most appropriate when performing a wrist extension exercise?
a. flexing the hand to the neutral position
b. grasping the bar with a pronated grip
c. allowing the hand to extend toward the floor - Correct Answers -b. grasping the bar
with a pronated grip
Which of the following methods of stretching should be incorporated into an athlete's
program who demonstrates a restricted range of motion during hip flexion?
a. dynamic stretching
b. hold-relax PNF
c. ballistic stretching - Correct Answers -b. hold-relax PNF
Even though it is an ideal warm-up activity, dynamic stretching may be less effective
than static or proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation stretching at increasing static ROM (5); in situations in which an increased
static ROM is needed, static or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation meth-ods may
be preferred.
An untrained athlete demonstrates valgus knee motion during the eccentric phase of an
unloaded barbell back squat exercise. What action would be most appropriate?
a. elevate the heels with a block
b. provide external verbal cues
c. perform a side-lying leg lift - Correct Answers -b. provide external verbal cues
If programming to enhance buffering capacity, when should the strength and
conditioning professional coordinate the inclusion of 3 on 3 small sided games for a
collegiate soccer?
a. pre-season
b. in-season
, c. off-season - Correct Answers -b. in-season
A high school football team is in the hypertrophy phase of the training cycle. The risk of
overuse injuries in the upcoming season is increased when the emphasis of the daily
training sessions is which of the following?
a. work hard, train heavy on each set
b. individualized progression
c. incorporation of multijoint exercises - Correct Answers -a. work hard, train heavy on
each set
When designing a training program to develop power over time of a trained female
volleyball outside hitter, which of the following options should be included?
a. 1 sets x 3 reps of back squats @ 90% 1RM; followed by 1 sets x 3 reps of
countermovement jump with 2 minutes of intra-rest interval
b. 1 sets x 3 reps of back squats @ 90% 1RM; followed by 1 sets x 3 reps of
countermovement jump with 4 minutes of intra-rest interval
c. 1 sets x 10 reps of back squats @ 60% 1RM; followed by 1 sets x 3 reps of
countermovement jump with 4 minutes of intra-rest interval - Correct Answers -b. 1 sets
x 3 reps of back squats @ 90% 1RM; followed by 1 sets x 3 reps of countermovement
jump with 4 minutes of intra-rest interval
Which of the following should be assigned when programming the development of max
muscular strength?
a. 3 sets of 5 repetitions x 45 seconds
b. 3 sets x 5 repetitions x 145 seconds
c. 3 sets of 8 repetitions x 90 seconds - Correct Answers -b. 3 sets x 5 repetitions x 145
seconds
A strength and conditioning professional is selecting exercises to enhance cycling
performance for a triathlete. Which of the following options are most applicable to the
drive phase?
a. pogo jumps
b. countermovement jumps
c. squat jumps - Correct Answers -c. squat jumps
Which of the following best identifies a key component when training for agility as
compared to training for change of direction?
a. randomization of a cone pattern requiring change of direction
b. change of direction in response to a sport-specific stimulus
c. speed when decelerating to change direction and reaccelerate - Correct Answers -b.
change of direction in response to a sport-specific stimulus
Agility has traditionally been considered the ability to stop, start, and change the
direction of the whole body rapidly (101, 108). Agility consists of two main components:
speed in changing direction and cognitive factors (101)
(PRACTICAL APPLIED) WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
A basketball team, when participating in a speed and agility training session, performs a
deceleration drill at three-quarter speed and take more than 8 steps to come to a stop.
What change in the activity should be provided?
a. run at half speed and stop within three steps
b. run at three-quarter speed and stop within five steps
c. run at half speed and stop within 7 steps - Correct Answers -a. run at half speed and
stop within three steps
Which of the following is most appropriate when performing a wrist extension exercise?
a. flexing the hand to the neutral position
b. grasping the bar with a pronated grip
c. allowing the hand to extend toward the floor - Correct Answers -b. grasping the bar
with a pronated grip
Which of the following methods of stretching should be incorporated into an athlete's
program who demonstrates a restricted range of motion during hip flexion?
a. dynamic stretching
b. hold-relax PNF
c. ballistic stretching - Correct Answers -b. hold-relax PNF
Even though it is an ideal warm-up activity, dynamic stretching may be less effective
than static or proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation stretching at increasing static ROM (5); in situations in which an increased
static ROM is needed, static or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation meth-ods may
be preferred.
An untrained athlete demonstrates valgus knee motion during the eccentric phase of an
unloaded barbell back squat exercise. What action would be most appropriate?
a. elevate the heels with a block
b. provide external verbal cues
c. perform a side-lying leg lift - Correct Answers -b. provide external verbal cues
If programming to enhance buffering capacity, when should the strength and
conditioning professional coordinate the inclusion of 3 on 3 small sided games for a
collegiate soccer?
a. pre-season
b. in-season
, c. off-season - Correct Answers -b. in-season
A high school football team is in the hypertrophy phase of the training cycle. The risk of
overuse injuries in the upcoming season is increased when the emphasis of the daily
training sessions is which of the following?
a. work hard, train heavy on each set
b. individualized progression
c. incorporation of multijoint exercises - Correct Answers -a. work hard, train heavy on
each set
When designing a training program to develop power over time of a trained female
volleyball outside hitter, which of the following options should be included?
a. 1 sets x 3 reps of back squats @ 90% 1RM; followed by 1 sets x 3 reps of
countermovement jump with 2 minutes of intra-rest interval
b. 1 sets x 3 reps of back squats @ 90% 1RM; followed by 1 sets x 3 reps of
countermovement jump with 4 minutes of intra-rest interval
c. 1 sets x 10 reps of back squats @ 60% 1RM; followed by 1 sets x 3 reps of
countermovement jump with 4 minutes of intra-rest interval - Correct Answers -b. 1 sets
x 3 reps of back squats @ 90% 1RM; followed by 1 sets x 3 reps of countermovement
jump with 4 minutes of intra-rest interval
Which of the following should be assigned when programming the development of max
muscular strength?
a. 3 sets of 5 repetitions x 45 seconds
b. 3 sets x 5 repetitions x 145 seconds
c. 3 sets of 8 repetitions x 90 seconds - Correct Answers -b. 3 sets x 5 repetitions x 145
seconds
A strength and conditioning professional is selecting exercises to enhance cycling
performance for a triathlete. Which of the following options are most applicable to the
drive phase?
a. pogo jumps
b. countermovement jumps
c. squat jumps - Correct Answers -c. squat jumps
Which of the following best identifies a key component when training for agility as
compared to training for change of direction?
a. randomization of a cone pattern requiring change of direction
b. change of direction in response to a sport-specific stimulus
c. speed when decelerating to change direction and reaccelerate - Correct Answers -b.
change of direction in response to a sport-specific stimulus
Agility has traditionally been considered the ability to stop, start, and change the
direction of the whole body rapidly (101, 108). Agility consists of two main components:
speed in changing direction and cognitive factors (101)
