NSCA CSCS Practical 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When spotting a client performing a barbell back squat, where should the spotter primarily position their hands during the lift?
- On the barbell
- Around the client's torso under the armpits (Correct answer)
- On the client's hips
- On the client's knees
Correct answer: Around the client's torso under the armpits
The spotter wraps their arms under the lifter's armpits and around the torso to safely assist or catch the load if the lifter fails.
Question 2: During a power clean, the athlete fails to fully extend the hips and knees at the second pull. Which cue is MOST appropriate to correct this?
- Pull the bar higher with your arms
- Jump and shrug aggressively at the top (Correct answer)
- Keep your elbows high throughout
- Initiate the pull earlier from the floor
Correct answer: Jump and shrug aggressively at the top
Cueing a 'jump and shrug' encourages full triple extension of the ankles, knees, and hips, which is the key mechanical flaw in an incomplete second pull.
Question 3: A strength and conditioning coach observes an athlete's knees caving inward (valgus collapse) during a back squat. Which of the following is the BEST corrective cue?
- Push your knees together
- Drive your knees out over your toes (Correct answer)
- Widen your stance significantly
- Reduce the load and focus on hip flexion
Correct answer: Drive your knees out over your toes
Cueing 'drive your knees out over your toes' activates the hip abductors and external rotators to counteract valgus collapse.
Question 4: An athlete is learning the Romanian deadlift (RDL). Which body position error indicates they are performing it incorrectly?
- Slight bend in the knees maintained throughout
- Bar staying close to the thighs during descent
- Lower back rounding as hips hinge backward (Correct answer)
- Hip crease descending below the knees
Correct answer: Lower back rounding as hips hinge backward
Lower back rounding during the RDL indicates a loss of neutral spine and places harmful compressive stress on the lumbar vertebrae.
Question 5: Which grip width is most commonly used for the conventional deadlift to optimize pulling mechanics and minimize bar path deviation?
- Just outside shoulder-width with a double overhand grip (Correct answer)
- Snatch-width grip with arms fully extended
- Sumo stance with hands inside the knees
- Hands placed directly under the shoulders
Correct answer: Just outside shoulder-width with a double overhand grip
A just-outside-shoulder-width double overhand grip keeps the bar close to the body and allows for efficient pulling mechanics in a conventional deadlift.
Question 6: During a bench press, an athlete's wrists are hyperextended throughout the lift. What is the PRIMARY concern with this technique?
- Reduced pectoral muscle activation
- Increased risk of wrist and forearm injury (Correct answer)
- Elevated bar path above the chest
- Wider range of motion at the shoulder
Correct answer: Increased risk of wrist and forearm injury
Hyperextended wrists during bench pressing place excessive stress on the wrist joint and forearm flexors, increasing injury risk over time.
Question 7: A coach wants to teach the push jerk to a beginner athlete. What is the correct sequence of phases?
- Dip, drive, punch, recover (Correct answer)
- Clean, front squat, press, lock out
- Pull, catch, squat, stand
- Set, pull, dip, press
Correct answer: Dip, drive, punch, recover
The push jerk phases are dip (quarter squat), drive (explosive leg extension), punch (push under the bar), and recover (stand to full extension).
NSCA CSCS Practical 2
When spotting a client performing a barbell back squat, where should the spotter primarily position their hands during the lift?