Source credit: PubMed / Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research – National Strength and Conditioning Association Position Statement on Strength and Conditioning of Female Athletes. Part II: Training Adaptations and Program Design.
Summary: The National Strength and Conditioning Association published Part II of its updated female-athlete position statement on June 12, 2026. The statement says the basic principles of strength and conditioning still apply to female athletes, but it also argues that gaps in resourcing, consistency, and delivery continue to limit female athletes in ways that are too often blamed on biology alone. The paper organizes its update around neuroendocrine responses, neuromuscular adaptations, metabolic adaptations, and program design.
Why it matters for lifters
- This is a useful reset for coaches and athletes: The update argues against treating female lifters like a niche exception to basic training principles while still taking sex-specific physiology seriously.
- Programming quality still drives outcomes: Progressive overload, planning, and consistent access to competent strength coaching matter more than vague claims that women need completely separate rules.
- It also highlights a practical access problem: When female athletes get worse facilities, less coaching attention, or weaker long-term planning, the performance gap can be organizational before it is physiological.
What to watch next
- Watch how coaches and federations apply the statement in actual programming instead of quoting it only when discussing physiology.
- Watch for follow-up work that turns the broad position statement into clearer field guidance for hypertrophy, strength peaking, and recovery management.
- If someone uses biology as a catch-all reason for weak results, compare that claim with the statement’s emphasis on training access, delivery, and program design.
Health disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Training history, menstrual-health concerns, injury history, and performance goals should be addressed with qualified medical and coaching professionals when building an individualized plan.