Thread: 10 Program Pitfalls

yea, that is a good article. Cressey writes some good stuff!

Agreed. It's an informative article for sure; I really like the way he was able to identify the problems and/or ideas in an overall training program that aren't so uncommon or easily addressed. Each pitfall has something to offer the trainee: an added detail or explanation of a concept that enhances the understanding and application of such knowledge.

Nice find...

Glad ya'll like it. I'm an avid reader of T-Nation. I tend to post their stuff here a lot. There was another 2 part article of Cressey's that I found on another site I need to post the link for. It was regarding common biomechanical fallacies and such, it was definitely a nice read. I'll see if I can dig it up later today or tomorrow.

I didn't want to break any rules by pimping another site, but T-Nation is great! I've spent many hours there reading many great articles.

BTW, CowPimp, I purchased the NSCA's textbook. It's great so far. Thanks again for the reading recommendations.

Originally Posted by CowPimp

Glad ya'll like it. I'm an avid reader of T-Nation. I tend to post their stuff here a lot. There was another 2 part article of Cressey's that I found on another site I need to post the link for. It was regarding common biomechanical fallacies and such, it was definitely a nice read. I'll see if I can dig it up later today or tomorrow.

yea, they have a lot of good articles. I have read many of them.


DOMS- which NSCA text did you purchase, the CSCS book or the CPT book? Both are good but some of the stuff llike the periodization needs to be updated.

I purchased the Essentials of Personal Training (3rd edition, 2004). Is this book out-of-date in any way?

Originally Posted by DOMS

I purchased the Essentials of Personal Training (3rd edition, 2004). Is this book out-of-date in any way?

don't know about that one. I have the Essentials of Strength and conditioning, which is the text for the CSCS test.

It isn't that the book is out of date. But, the periodization and program design chapters only focus on linear periodization. In the CSCS book there is a paragraph on undulating periodization. if you read and of the NSCA strength and conditioning journal it is all about alternate forms of periodization since the biggest problem with linear periodization is that when you focus on one aspect of training (endurance for example) for an extended period of time other aspects (like strength) will suffer or not improve or improve very little.

Either way, the books are great for learning and you can still learn a lot from reading them and understanding how linear periodization works and even use it for yourself as it is still effective for some sports, typically those that require "peaking" for a single event rather then something that spans a sport season (like football). You will learn a lot.

I'm out of action due to an injury (I popped the costal cartilage loose from one of my false ribs), so I've got plenty of time to read. After I'm finished with EPT, I'll buy the ESC book.

Originally Posted by DOMS

I'm out of action due to an injury (I popped the costal cartilage loose from one of my false ribs), so I've got plenty of time to read. After I'm finished with EPT, I'll buy the ESC book.

I think a lot of the material is the same. Once you read one text book you pretty much read them all (kind of).

I would buy something else. Mel Siff's supertraining is a favorite of mine. Zatsiorsky is good. Poliquin's books are good.

I was coincidently reading the same article an hour after you posted this CP. Great minds think alike - but I don't know how I fluked stumbling onto it.

Awesome article, although can somebody explain more in depth what linear periodization is?

Originally Posted by soxmuscle

Awesome article, although can somebody explain more in depth what linear periodization is?

week 1-3= 80%
week 4-6= 85%
week 7-9= 90%
week 10-12= 95%
week 13-15= 100%

it just means that increases move in a linear fashion as opposed to a non-linear way.