Annual Trends in Strength & Conditioning Technology

How We Approach Trends

We’ve been watching this industry long enough to know the difference between a real shift and a vendor-driven trend cycle. Our annual trends report is built on conversations with working coaches at every level — not press releases, not conference keynotes. Here’s what’s actually moving the needle this year.

2026 Trends: What’s Real

1. Force Plate Adoption Is Reaching the High School Level

Portable wireless force plates — led by Hawkin Dynamics and VALD — have dropped in price enough that forward-thinking high school programs are starting to adopt them. The coaches using them are getting real readiness and asymmetry data that was previously only available to college and pro programs. This isn’t a fad — it’s a technology access shift that will continue.

2. AI-Assisted Programming Is Maturing

Platforms like Volt Athletics pioneered AI program generation for the high school market. The next wave is smarter auto-regulation — platforms that adjust programming based on athlete readiness data in real time. This is still early-stage but worth watching. The coaches who learn to use these tools well will have a significant workload advantage within 3–5 years.

3. Consolidation in the S&C Software Market

The athlete management software space has too many platforms for the market size. Expect continued consolidation — acquisitions, partnerships, and platform shutdowns — over the next 3 years. If your program is on a smaller platform, ask your vendor hard questions about their funding and roadmap before renewing a long-term contract.

4. Velocity-Based Training Is Moving from Elite to Mainstream

VBT devices cost what force plates cost five years ago — and adoption curves are following the same pattern. Programs that adopted VBT at the college level 5 years ago are now seeing high schools incorporate it. PUSH Band and GymAware are the tools most coaches are actually using day-to-day.

5. Recovery and Readiness Are Becoming Core Program Components

Sleep tracking, HRV monitoring, and structured recovery protocols are no longer just pro sport practices. College programs are formalizing recovery as a training variable — and the best high school coaches are starting to follow. This is driven partly by the research and partly by the fact that the tools are now accessible.

What We’re Watching But Not Ready to Call

• AI coaching chatbots — interesting but not yet at a place where they add value a good coach can’t deliver more efficiently
• Exergaming and gamified training — some early adoption in youth programs; too early to know if it drives real training outcomes
• Biometric wearables in scholastic sports — real privacy and FERPA considerations that will slow adoption at the K-12 level regardless of technology readiness

Want to Contribute to Next Year’s Report?

We survey working coaches every year as part of our research process. If you want to be included in our annual coach survey and have your program represented in next year’s data, let us know.