NSCA CPSS Exam Questions With Graded A+ 2025/2026
What is supercompensation? - Supercompensation is the effect whereby performance
is enhanced if the body is able/allowed to adapt.
What syndrome is supercompensation related to? - General adaptation syndrome
What is general adaptation syndrome? - The framework of interaction between the
imposed training stress, acute fatigue response, adaptation, and a new level of
homeostasis/performance.
How does overtraining syndrome develop? - After continued high volume, high intensity
training or both when an athlete is over-reached.
Which training model is when performance of a positive fitness effect and a negative
fatigue effect decay exponentially over time but at different rates? - Fitness-fatigue
model
What is the dose-response relationship? - relationship between the size of an
administered dose and the intensity of the response produced
What qualifies as external load? - Amount of weight lifted, distance/speed of running, its
what an athlete has done.
What is it called when an athlete has responded to an external load? - Internal load
How is external load measured? - camera systems, global positioning systems, local
positioning systems, often in conjunction with other sensors such as accelerometers
and power meters.
What is the principle that the energy cost of acceleration is equivalent to running at a
constant speed up an "equivalent slope"? - Metabolic Power
What is the most appropriate equation for quantifying resistance training load? -
Number of sets x number of repetitions x percent repetition max
What is performance? - A function of the difference between fitness and fatigue
Which central and peripheral sites contribute to fatigue? - Activation of the motor
command (brain)
Propagation of the action potential through the descending motor pathway
Myofilament excitation-contraction coupling
Status of the intracellular milieu
What is Psychobiological model of fatigue? - Modification of intensity whereby fatigue
occurs when the effort required exceeds maximal effort the athlete is willing to exert or
, when the athlete believes the effort has been maximal and it feels impossible to
continue.
What is the Integrative governor theory? - Suggests both psychological and
physiological factors limit performance with a particular focus on subconscious
avoidance of catastrophic failure due to severe disruptions in homeostasis.
what is the deterministic model of training? - a model of sports performance wherein
there is a unique consequence or or outcome to every input or state
What is a dynamic systems theory of training? - a model of sports performance used to
describe complex behavior across complex and dynamic systems
What are positive adaptation measures when measuring heart rate? - Improvements in
heart rate variability and heart rate recovery at rest and post exercise.
In which environments and with what frequency of monitoring of HRV is a good
indication of positive adaptation? - Team sports when used at least once a week
Individual sports when used at least once a week
When is there limited usefulness with measuring HR(V)? - When measuring less than
once a week or when neuromuscular and cognitive function are the main determinants
of sport.
How is invisible monitoring defined? - As assessing athletes as ready go compete by
increasing load with actual training drills such as small sided games.
What is the relevancy of a reduction in flight time:contraction time measured from a
CMJ? - It shows the fatigue from playing small-sided games
What are the 5 psychometric inventories used to monitor the global psychological
response? - Profile Of Moods States (POMS)
Daily Analyses of Life Demands for Athletes (DALDA)
Multi-Component Training Distress Scale
Recovery and Stress Questionairre (REST-Q Sport)
Athlete Reported Outcome Measures (AROMs)
What factors are considered for the complexity of training and load? - Physiological -
kinetic energy(distance/speed threshold), metabolic power(accelerations), VO2,
Cardiovascular demand, RPE
Biomechanical - Whole-body loads (Ground reaction forces), Accelerations and
decelerations (Magnitude and frequency), Rate of acceleration (Playerload TM), Joint
Load, perceived tissue damage, RPE
What is supercompensation? - Supercompensation is the effect whereby performance
is enhanced if the body is able/allowed to adapt.
What syndrome is supercompensation related to? - General adaptation syndrome
What is general adaptation syndrome? - The framework of interaction between the
imposed training stress, acute fatigue response, adaptation, and a new level of
homeostasis/performance.
How does overtraining syndrome develop? - After continued high volume, high intensity
training or both when an athlete is over-reached.
Which training model is when performance of a positive fitness effect and a negative
fatigue effect decay exponentially over time but at different rates? - Fitness-fatigue
model
What is the dose-response relationship? - relationship between the size of an
administered dose and the intensity of the response produced
What qualifies as external load? - Amount of weight lifted, distance/speed of running, its
what an athlete has done.
What is it called when an athlete has responded to an external load? - Internal load
How is external load measured? - camera systems, global positioning systems, local
positioning systems, often in conjunction with other sensors such as accelerometers
and power meters.
What is the principle that the energy cost of acceleration is equivalent to running at a
constant speed up an "equivalent slope"? - Metabolic Power
What is the most appropriate equation for quantifying resistance training load? -
Number of sets x number of repetitions x percent repetition max
What is performance? - A function of the difference between fitness and fatigue
Which central and peripheral sites contribute to fatigue? - Activation of the motor
command (brain)
Propagation of the action potential through the descending motor pathway
Myofilament excitation-contraction coupling
Status of the intracellular milieu
What is Psychobiological model of fatigue? - Modification of intensity whereby fatigue
occurs when the effort required exceeds maximal effort the athlete is willing to exert or
, when the athlete believes the effort has been maximal and it feels impossible to
continue.
What is the Integrative governor theory? - Suggests both psychological and
physiological factors limit performance with a particular focus on subconscious
avoidance of catastrophic failure due to severe disruptions in homeostasis.
what is the deterministic model of training? - a model of sports performance wherein
there is a unique consequence or or outcome to every input or state
What is a dynamic systems theory of training? - a model of sports performance used to
describe complex behavior across complex and dynamic systems
What are positive adaptation measures when measuring heart rate? - Improvements in
heart rate variability and heart rate recovery at rest and post exercise.
In which environments and with what frequency of monitoring of HRV is a good
indication of positive adaptation? - Team sports when used at least once a week
Individual sports when used at least once a week
When is there limited usefulness with measuring HR(V)? - When measuring less than
once a week or when neuromuscular and cognitive function are the main determinants
of sport.
How is invisible monitoring defined? - As assessing athletes as ready go compete by
increasing load with actual training drills such as small sided games.
What is the relevancy of a reduction in flight time:contraction time measured from a
CMJ? - It shows the fatigue from playing small-sided games
What are the 5 psychometric inventories used to monitor the global psychological
response? - Profile Of Moods States (POMS)
Daily Analyses of Life Demands for Athletes (DALDA)
Multi-Component Training Distress Scale
Recovery and Stress Questionairre (REST-Q Sport)
Athlete Reported Outcome Measures (AROMs)
What factors are considered for the complexity of training and load? - Physiological -
kinetic energy(distance/speed threshold), metabolic power(accelerations), VO2,
Cardiovascular demand, RPE
Biomechanical - Whole-body loads (Ground reaction forces), Accelerations and
decelerations (Magnitude and frequency), Rate of acceleration (Playerload TM), Joint
Load, perceived tissue damage, RPE
