Prescription of the volume

Strength and conditioning professionals often rely on predictive tables to estimate how many repetitions athletes can perform based on the exercise and relative load, despite significant variation in how many repetitions individuals can achieve at a given percentage of their one-repetition maximum (1RM). As a result, prescribing a fixed regimen of sets and repetitions (e.g., three sets of ten) can lead to differing levels of effort, pushing some individuals close to failure while others complete the sets with ease. A velocity-based approach to prescribing resistance training (RT) volume can address this issue, potentially improving the accuracy of training prescriptions and reducing disparities in fatigue and adaptation. This chapter explores the key velocity-based approaches for setting volume prescriptions in RT, including (i) velocity loss thresholds; (ii) the relationship between repetitions left in reserve and lifting velocity (RIR-velocity relationship); and (iii) the relationship between maximum repetitions to failure and fastest set velocity (RTF-velocity relationship). This chapter also highlights the importance of monitoring changes in fastest set velocity during multi-set RT sessions to guide volume prescriptions.