Since power development amongst athletes is often considered a key component to successful sports performance (as most activities are force and time dependent), understanding this component of physical fitness is essential if it is to be efficiently integrated into strength and conditioning (S&C) programmes. Successful achievement of such an outcome however, is based on a sound understanding of the scientific principles that underpin power. The aim of this article therefore, is to provide an overview of these physiological and biomechanical determinates and suggest means to manipulate them in order to increase the efficacy of such integration. The second part of this article then discusses training theories for the development of power.