Session Submissions

Submissions open July 9

Deadline: July 30, 2026 at Noon PT

Session proposals for the 2027 ACSM & ACE Health & Fitness Summit are now open!
Deadline: July 30, 2026 at Noon PT 

With each proposal, please be prepared to provide the following items along with answering other ancillary questions: 

  • Session Title 
  • Session Description 
  • Learning Objectives 
  • Equipment requests/needs (workshop only) 
  • A video or video clip of yourself giving a presentation. If you do not already have one, please create a short video (2-3 minutes) of yourself presenting a ‘teaser’ for the session you are submitting. 
  • Presenter details, including a shareable and accessible link to a CV/Resume/Bio 

 
We are looking for proposals on the following topics along with additional details on what the Summit Program Committee is looking for with each. Your proposal should focus on one of the items from the additional details. 

How are you using it? Evaluating the quality, using one in your own business, supporting client use; does not include AI.

What is cardiometabolic health? Understanding cardiometabolic risk factors and disease so you can help your clients. The foundation, the updates, the expected outcomes from exercise; with application. Coaching and evidence-based program design. It must tie back to ACSM guidelines and ACE 7 core drivers and where is it going and what can we do now.

Help professionals move beyond fitness myths by applying current evidence to design individualized resistance training programs that maximize strength, muscle hypertrophy, functional performance, and long-term adherence.

Understand the concept of periodization for performance/the athletic population using an evidence-based periodization structure.

Review current research on recovery science for performance and the application of various techniques to program design; Critically evaluate popular recovery strategies and apply evidence-based recovery practices that optimize performance, adaptation, health, and client outcomes while distinguishing science from marketing hype; Participants will be able to distinguish evidence-based recovery practices from popular trends, understand when specific recovery modalities are beneficial, and make informed recommendations based on client goals and training demands.

Define the concepts of lifespan and health span and explain their relevance to exercise, aging, and chronic disease prevention; Equip professionals with an evidence-based understanding of health span and lifespan and practical strategies for helping clients age healthier—not simply live longer. Practical application: program design that balances risk/reward. Connects to ACE’s 7 core drivers of healthy living and Pro Aging and/or ACSM’s Active Aging initiatives.

What are the unique challenges (i.e., pregnancy, menopause) women experience throughout their lifespan and what is the evidence-based impact that exercise and nutrition or other lifestyle changes can have on women’s health.

Moving beyond theories alone and incorporating exercise application, review the science of behavior change, examine motivation, adherence and habit formation and effective communication with clients. Equip exercise professionals with evidence-based communication and behavior change strategies that build trust, strengthen coaching relationships, improve client motivation, and support long-term adherence to physical activity and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Innovative ways of creating community engagement and social fitness; Equip exercise professionals with evidence-based strategies to build community-centered fitness experiences that improve client engagement, increase adherence, and create lasting behavior change across diverse populations.

Participants should learn why Pilates—especially reformer, mat, and Pilates-inspired small-group formats—is growing rapidly, and how fitness professionals can respond by designing safe, inclusive, evidence-informed, and commercially sustainable Pilates-based or Pilates-adjacent programs without diluting quality, scope of practice, or instructor standards.

GSSI Pre-Conference

The Physiology of Hydration: More Than Water Alone

This session explores the physiology of hydration through an integrated lens—examining how carbohydrate, sodium, flavor, and fluid interact to influence intake, absorption, retention, and performance. We’ll review current research on fluid balance, osmotic drivers, and palatability, highlighting mechanisms that underpin voluntary intake and thermoregulation. Attendees will gain insight into individualized strategies, including sweat profiling and timing approaches, to optimize euhydration and mitigate performance decrements associated with >2% body-mass loss. Practical applications will be linked to laboratory- and field-based research, ensuring translation from bench to field. This pre-conference equips you with evidence-based tools to support athlete hydration across diverse environments and sporting contexts. 

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  • Session 1: Sweating the detail: New insights on hydration considerations for athlete performance
    • Lewis James, PhD, Associate Professor in Human Nutrition in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University
  • Session 2: Functional ingredients in fluid replacement beverages for athletes
    • Lindsay Baker, PhD, Director at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute
  • Session 3: The hydration toolkit: Practical approaches to athlete support
    • Floris Wardenaar, PhD, Associate Professor at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University