NSCA CPSS Questions and Answers
2026 | Simplified Study Notes with
Rationales | A+ Verified
• Periodization vs Programming -✓✓Periodization is a a macro-
management strategy that serves as a training blueprint, from which
periods of time are assigned that target specific skills, fitness, or
performance related factors. Volume and intensity are inversely
related. 1-3 peaks/macrocycles per year
Programming is an operation of strategic thinking which is best
accomplished when ongoing monitoring is integrated into the
periodization process.
• How is biological adaptation achieved? -✓✓by disturbing the current
capacity of the system
• 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.
2026 | Simplified Study Notes with
Rationales | A+ Verified
• Periodization vs Programming -✓✓Periodization is a a macro-
management strategy that serves as a training blueprint, from which
periods of time are assigned that target specific skills, fitness, or
performance related factors. Volume and intensity are inversely
related. 1-3 peaks/macrocycles per year
Programming is an operation of strategic thinking which is best
accomplished when ongoing monitoring is integrated into the
periodization process.
• How is biological adaptation achieved? -✓✓by disturbing the current
capacity of the system
• 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.
