ACSM Sports Performance Coaching 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to ACSM guidelines, what is the primary energy system utilized during a 400-meter sprint?
- Aerobic oxidative system
- ATP-PCr system exclusively
- Glycolytic (anaerobic) system (Correct answer)
- Fat oxidation system
Correct answer: Glycolytic (anaerobic) system
The 400-meter sprint (~45-60 seconds) relies predominantly on the fast glycolytic system with significant lactate production.
Question 2: A performance coach wants to improve an athlete's rate of force development (RFD). Which training method is MOST effective?
- High-volume endurance training
- Ballistic and plyometric exercises (Correct answer)
- Static stretching protocols
- Low-load, high-repetition training
Correct answer: Ballistic and plyometric exercises
Ballistic and plyometric exercises require rapid force production, directly improving RFD through neural adaptations.
Question 3: When periodizing a team sport athlete's annual training plan, which phase typically emphasizes technical skill development at lower intensities?
- Competitive phase
- Peaking phase
- General preparatory phase (Correct answer)
- Transition/off-season phase
Correct answer: General preparatory phase
The general preparatory phase builds foundational fitness and allows technical work at lower intensities before sport-specific loading increases.
Question 4: A soccer player completes a 90-minute match. Which nutritional strategy BEST supports rapid glycogen resynthesis post-game?
- High-fat meal 3 hours post-game
- Protein shake with no carbohydrates
- Carbohydrate intake of 1.0-1.2 g/kg body weight within 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- Fasting for 2 hours to optimize fat oxidation
Correct answer: Carbohydrate intake of 1.0-1.2 g/kg body weight within 30 minutes
ACSM recommends 1.0-1.2 g/kg carbohydrate in the first 30 minutes post-exercise to maximize glycogen resynthesis rates.
Question 5: Which assessment is MOST appropriate for measuring a baseball pitcher's upper-body power output?
- 1-repetition maximum bench press
- Seated medicine ball chest throw (Correct answer)
- Push-up test to failure
- Grip strength dynamometry
Correct answer: Seated medicine ball chest throw
The seated medicine ball chest throw measures explosive upper-body power in a manner that approximates the throwing motion mechanics.
Question 6: An athlete shows decreased sprint speed but maintained strength levels after a competition block. This pattern MOST likely indicates:
- Overreaching due to excessive speed work (Correct answer)
- Normal supercompensation
- Detraining of the aerobic system
- Improved movement economy
Correct answer: Overreaching due to excessive speed work
Decreased speed with maintained strength suggests neural fatigue from excessive high-velocity work, a marker of functional overreaching.
Question 7: What does the term 'conjugate periodization' refer to in sports performance coaching?
- Sequential development of one fitness quality at a time
- Simultaneous training of multiple physical qualities throughout the year (Correct answer)
- Tapering before competition only
- Using only sport-specific drills for conditioning
Correct answer: Simultaneous training of multiple physical qualities throughout the year
Conjugate periodization develops multiple physical qualities concurrently, distributing training emphasis across strength, speed, and conditioning simultaneously.
ACSM Sports Performance Coaching 2
According to ACSM guidelines, what is the primary energy system utilized during a 400-meter sprint?