Free weights vs. machines: Adaptations can settle the debate

Should free weights vs. machine training be a debate among strength & conditioning coaches and other performance practitioners? Coaches have their rationales for programming certain exercises to achieve specific outcomes, sometimes to the extent of being biased for one to the exclusion of the other. Ultimately, we are all in the business of trying to give our athletes greater physical capabilities to improve their sporting performance. If two methods both contribute towards that goal, our discussions should be focused on understanding how, when and why to choose a particular modality or ex...