i thought the exam was fair. it is all applied knowledge so you wont see questions like .. what is the definition of this or that. you need to know the definitions in order to understand what the questions are asking. you wont need to know any equations like C6H12O6 + 2 NAD+ + 2 ADP + 2 P -----> 2 pyruvic acid.. so dont worry. but you will need to know the energy systems and how they relate to physical activity. like what energy system is predominantly used in gymnastics? the test is big on soccer, lacrosse, swimming, basketball, football, AND SPRINTING. hint hint.

know*

what sports use what muscle types (I, II)

difference between concentric, eccentric, isometric, isotonic, isokenetic, muscle movements

what muscle zones shorten or lengthen and when

golgi tendon and muscle spindles ***

countermovements/preloading - purpose

difference between first class (triceps), second class (calf raises), and third class (bicep curls - almost everything else) levers

planes of the body and exercises that use each one like punting a football is in the sagittal plane

know how to calculate work and power REMEMBER THAT GRAVITY = 9.8 you will need to know when to input gravity into an equation they do not provide you with the number 9.8 you just need to know when to use it. for instance, moving a 100kg barbell 2m for 5 reps would be 5x2 = 10; 10x100 = 1000; 1000x9.8 = 9800J (work) or the questions would be it takes 30sec to lift 100kg 2m for 6 reps which would be 2x6 = 12; 12x100 = 1200; 1200x9.8 = 11760; 11760/30 = 392W (power)

convert newtons to kg or lbs (N/9.8 = kg) (kg x 2.2 = lbs)

understand moment arm and force production

growth hormone and testosterone as they relate to exercise and where they secrete (also cortisol, IGF, insulin)

muscle fiber recruitment

overtraining/detraining/tapering metabolic effects

kids and training

what macros are used in diff sports to produce energy

when to increase protein

vegan nutritional guidelines

macros and their associated equations to calculate consumption based on weight and sport of athlete***

the practical section is actually typically harder for people because you cant always answer questions based on YOUR beliefs. for instance - 1 questions asked what a CSC coach should do FIRST if player asks for a supplement to gain muscle mass. a) provide one, b) refer them to anti dopping guidelines, c) discourage use of one. according to the NASM book, you provide them one. just make sure you really really take a hard look at the organization and administration section it trips a lot of people up. i didnt have questions at all regarding sq footage of anything. it was mainly what does informed consent mean, whos job is it to ensure all staff has bloodborn pathagone training...

ex technique big on knee valgus corrections, SPRINTING, throwing med balls overhead and from chest, box jumps, high knees, agility movements (deceleration, change of body movements quickly - form), cleans, spotting for barbell lunges and dumbbell presses. be prepared to look at a sequence of pictures and determine the corrections that need to be made. just pick the correction that would reduce the most amount of damage to the athlete.

p design / testing eval know all norms for as many sports as you can for all tests, olympic lifts, vo2, etc. and know what body parts are most important to focus on for the sports i listed above. just memorize the 90th percentile numbers for each sport in the book for lifting and v02.

this will help (memorize):

event female/male

vertical jump 20/30in

long jump 124/148in

pro agility 4/5sec

505 2/3sec

ttest 8/9sec

hexagon 12/14 sec

bench 270/120lbs

squat 350/170 lbs

clean 250/150lbs

sprint 40m 4/5sec

sit up 70/75

YMCA 44/42

pushup 36/30

300m/400m 65sec

1 mile 8:30/9:30

12min 1.7/1.5m

know*

one rep max based on % = every 5% decrease goes up 2 reps (memorize)

how all those tests are conducted above (just how to set them up, distances ran, where eyes are focused - those kinds of things)

the pro agility starts straddling the line IN A 3 POINT STANCE **

validity and reliability during testing like 1 tester should administer the same test to all people

the 2 for 2 rule - oddly had like 3-4 questions about this. know that for novice athletes that the weight is raised 5% and for more advanced its 10%. you will need to do the calculations.

karvonian method

weighted belts - this is not in the book but i had 2 questions related to this. like how much max should a weight belt be given this guy weighs like 250lbs.

the subtle differences between what a power and strength program look like.

know periodization WELL*** like when transitioning from preparatory to first transition what happens to volume and intensity (increase, decrease?)

the stages of sprinting hip/knee flexion/extension plantar flexion so forth.

types of endurance training and metabolic effects / rest periods (LSD, interval 1:1, repetition, fartlek..)

i purchased pocket prep which actually helped a lot and is in the exact format of how the questions are asked on the test (except for videos or pictures) helped me understand my strength and weaknesses. id recommend (19$)

the BEST study tool i used was Ryan Grella's NSCA CSCS Examination review and study guide ebook. you get 2 practice tests and then 400 practice questions and answers. (28$)

i also purchased the official NCSA bundle package which was good to understand what the NCSA focused on and in this one you get pictures and video content which was helpful. ($184 non-member pricing)

i refereed to the essentials of ST book while studying. i needed to find my strengths and weaknesses by taking practice tests then going back and reviewing that material in the book. (book $109)

finally quizlet! just type in google cscs nsca quizlet exam. i really thought this was helpful and to make it better its all FREE!