The Science of SAC (Speed, Agility, Conditioning)

The Sciences of SAC (Speed, Agility, Conditioning) Second Edition by Brent McFarlane, Canada's 2000 Olympic coach. Published in 2002.

This book offers nearly 300 pages of the latest information about the Sciences of Speed, Agility, and Conditioning to improve performance. Written in a very easy to understand style, it also presents the science behind energy system training and will teach you to apply Science to the art of coaching.. This book provides hundreds of drills, circuits, and training sessions that can be used with your athletes.

289 pages. 2001.

About the Author

Brent McFarlane is an honours graduate in Kinesiology and Sciences from the University of Waterloo. He taught elementary school physical and health education for 30 years with the Wellington County School Board.

As an athlete he competed in sprints and middle distance events. It is as a coach and educator that he made his mark on the sport in Canada and World-wide. For three decades he has studied and visited over 50 countries and wrote extensively (of 550 articles), as well as author of Canada's NCCP Level II and III Sprints and Hurdles curricula. He was a world-renowned author publishing four books on Speed, Agility and Conditioning and The Science of Hurdling. His books are still sought after by athletes and Coaches around the world today. He conducted countless clinics and workshops throughout the world and has been the major contributor to the design of the Athletics Canada hurdling and sprinting education programme since his first assignment in 1975.

Brent was Canada's Head Track and Field Coach for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He coached on 33 Canadian National team including four Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games, three Pan-Am Games, and three World Championships.

Athletes from his training groups have established: 22 Canadian Records, 38 Provincial Records, 40 were National Champions, and 185 were Ontario Champions (includes 52 OFSSA High School Champions). Forty-three Waterloo County athletes have been on Canadian National Teams.

With all his national and international involvement, he also served as the Head Coach of the University of Waterloo Varsity Team and the Kitchner - Waterloo Track and Field Club until his retirement in 2005. In 1991 and 1997 he was named "Coach of the Year" by the University of Waterloo. In 1993 he was awarded the 3M "Coaching Award of Excellence" by Athletics Canada and for his contribution to education in Canada. In 1996 he was named University Women's OWIAA (Ontario) and CIAU (Canadian ) Cross Country "Coach of the Year" and 1997, 1999, and 2000 OWIAA Women’s Track and Field "Coach of the Year." In 2002, Brent was inducted into the University of Waterloo Athletic Hall of Fame. Upon his retirement in 2005, the University of Waterloo established the "Brent McFarlane Track and Field Endowment" to support the improvement of the University’s Track and Field program.

In 2002 he received the first annual "Special Recognition Award" from the Big Brothers of Kitchener–Waterloo for his contribution to local sport and athletes in the K-W community. He was honoured in 2004 for his volunteer service with the "Waterloo Award" by the City of Waterloo. In 2006 he was named to the Waterloo County Hall of Fame as a community builder. In 2007, Brent was recognized as one of 50 University of Waterloo Alumni for his outstanding commitment to the University at the 50th Anniversary Alumni Awards.

In 1998, Charlie Parker (USA) and Brent McFarlane (Canada) created and founded SAC CANADA - USA. Scott Phelps (USA) joined SAC CANADA - USA a Director of Education in 1999.

He lived in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada with his wife Vicki. They have two children, Andrea and Christopher.

Brent passed away in April 2019 following a long fight with Parkinson's disease.