Colorado Springs, CO - The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) announces a new partnership with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The new agreement helps equip more coaches with the latest anti-doping knowledge.

This article provides the first academic history of the barbell back squat and its evolution from a bodyweight exercise in the 19th century to a loaded exercise used for a variety of purposes in the present age. In doing so, the article highlights three key drivers in the evolution of the back squat—changes in equipment, the diversification of strength sports, and scientific communication concerning the safety and efficacy of the movement. The goal of this article was not to provide a dry and irrelevant history but rather to stress the complexity of the squat’s prominence within fitness programs and the need to hold a nuanced view toward the “optimal” way to approach this movement. It examines how the movement evolved from being primarily done on the tips of one’s toes, to a loaded movement on tippy toes, to a flat-footed movement. By contextualizing the back squat’s history, this article challenges rigid notions of “correct” squatting technique and encourages a more nuanced understanding of exercise selection in strength and conditioning practice. It concludes by highlighting the importance of critically examining the social construction of knowledge in fitness and sport, and the value of historical perspective in informing contemporary training practices

Join the 2026 NSCA Training Prescriptions for Overhead Athletes Summit in San Diego on March 28. Learn advanced biomechanics, train hands-on, and earn 0.8 CEUs.

Join the 2026 NSCA Exercise Techniques & Progressions Summit in Springfield, MA, on Sept. 26. Refine cues, progressions, and training adjustments. Earn 0.8 CEUs

Explore 2027 NSCA Tactical Annual Training in San Antonio and online, August 23–26, for tactical strength and conditioning education. See 2026 highlights.

Join the 2026 NSCA Power Sports Performance Summit in Plainfield, IN, Sept. 26. Build explosive qualities with cueing, loading, + sport transfer. Earn 0.8 CEUs

Colorado Springs, Co – The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is proud to announce that founder, Boyd Epley, the “Godfather of Strength and Conditioning,” has been recognized with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN).

Colorado Springs, CO - A seasoned professional with a history of leading nonprofit, membership-based associations, Michael Massik joins the NSCA as Executive Director effective in January 2016.

Join the 2026 NSCA Performance Science Integration Summit in Austin, TX, on March 28. Explore applied sport science research, train hands-on, and earn 0.8 CEUs.

Learn how NSCA’s renewed sport partnership with the Professional Hockey Performance Organization (PHPO) supports shared standards, education, and collaboration.