NSCA CSCS Topic Guide
Exercise Technique
Technique questions reward safe setup, breathing and spotting decisions, and recognition of major technical errors.
What the exam tends to ask
Free-weight and machine setup, execution, breathing, and spotting.
Alternative modes such as bodyweight, core, bands, chains, and nontraditional implements.
Choosing exercises only when the athlete has the skill and control to perform them.
Must-know concepts
Spotting
Spotting decisions are tied to exercise risk, implement, load, and lifter skill.
Breathing
Technique scenarios often test when breath control supports bracing and when it creates risk.
Technical readiness
Exercise selection should match athlete ability, not just the sport's desired outcome.
Practice prompts
- 01Describe the setup cues that make a free-weight lift safer before load increases.
- 02Decide when a nontraditional implement adds useful specificity versus unnecessary complexity.