Lift Vault

Free Programs and Spreadsheets

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Lift Vault Market
    • Buy Custom Programs
    • Buy Training Programs
  • Program Finder
  • Programs & Spreadsheets
    • Program Type
      • Powerlifting Programs
        • Peaking Programs
      • Bodybuilding Program
      • Strength Training Program
      • Powerbuilding Programs
      • Hypertrophy Programs
      • Bodyweight Workout Programs
      • Lift Specific Program
        • Squat Programs
        • Bench Press Programs
        • Deadlift Programs
      • Olympic Weightlifting Programs
    • Number of Weeks
      • 3 to 9 Weeks
        • 3 Week Programs
        • 4 Week Programs
        • 5 Week Programs
        • 6 Week Programs
        • 8 Week Programs
        • 9 Week Programs
      • 10+ Weeks
        • 10 Week Programs
        • 11 Week Programs
        • 12 Week Programs
        • 13 Week Programs
        • 14 Week Programs
        • 15 Week Programs
        • 16 Week Programs
    • Workout Splits
      • 3 Day Workout Split
      • 4 Day Workout Split
      • 5 Day Workout Split
      • 6 Day Workout Split
      • Upper/Lower Split
      • 6 Day PPL Split
      • Full Body Workout Plan
      • Bro Split Workout
      • Arnold Split Workout
  • Reviews
    • Program Reviews
    • Equipment Reviews
      • IPF & USAPL Approved List of Gear
      • USPA Approved List of Gear
    • Supplement Reviews
      • Pre Workout Reviews
        • Best Pre Workout 2023
        • Strongest Pre Workout
        • Best Stim Free Pre Workout
        • Best Pre-Workout for Beginners
        • Best Thermogenic Pre Workout
        • Best Pre Workout for Teens
        • Best Natural Pre Workout
      • Muscle Building
        • Best Cheap Protein Powder
        • Best Cheap Mass Gainers
        • Best Creatine for Bulking
        • Best Intra Workout Supplements
        • Best Creatine HCL
        • Best Protein Powders Without Artificial Sweeteners
        • Best Protein Powders for Teens
        • Best Protein Powders Without Heavy Metals
  • Learn
    • Resources
      • Find Powerlifting Meets
    • Exercises
      • Hammer Curl vs Bicep Curl
      • Bench Press vs Chest Press
      • Dumbbell vs Barbell Bench Press
      • Deadlift vs Romanian Deadlift
      • Long Head Bicep Exercises
      • Short Head Bicep Exercises
      • Cable Shoulder Exercises
  • /r/LiftVault
  • Contact
    • How Lift Vault Got Started
    • Meet the Team
    • Submit a Program
    • Lift Vault vs Lifting Vault
Home » Programs » 9 Week Programs » TSA 9 Week Beginner Powerlifting Program

TSA 9 Week Beginner Powerlifting Program

Avatar

By Kyle Risley
Last updated May 4, 2023

Recommended by Lift Vault: Recommended

Experience level: Beginner

Weeks: 13, 9

Periodization: Undulating Periodization

Meet prep program: Yes

Program goal: Peaking, Powerlifting

Uses RPE: Yes

Uses 1RM Percentage(%): Yes


As an affiliate of various sites, including Amazon Associates, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases via links in this post at no extra cost to you. See Full Disclosure

The Strength Athlete (TSA) released their 9 week beginner powerlifting program (aka general beginner approach) as a follow up to their successful 9 week intermediate powerlifting program. Like the intermediate program before it, the beginner program is structured as a 4 day, 9 week program, but also includes a 4 week peak if preparing for a meet. 

If you enjoy the program, please consider donating to TSA.

Table of Contents

  • 1 TSA Beginner Approach Overview
  • 2 TSA Beginner Program on Boostcamp App
  • 3 TSA Beginner Approach Spreadsheet

TSA Beginner Approach Overview

  • 4 training days per week
  • 9 weeks per training cycle
  • 2x weekly squat
  • 3x weekly bench press
  • 1x weekly deadlift
  • Includes tabs for training history to track progress if running repeat cycles is desired
  • Uses RPE and % based weights

From the spreadsheet:

This is a 9-week training approach for beginner athletes designed to overcome many shortcomings of common programs that beginner powerlifters run. It’s the starting program we wish we had before powerlifting, designed to bridge into either repeats of the same approach as long as you keep making progress, or into more advanced training approaches as seamlessly as possible. Toward the end, athletes handle heavier and heavier loads as they work toward new 3-rep maxes before rinsing and repeating. Most athletes should find this is a balanced amount of training volume, training stress, and loading to see great progress. We think you’ll really like it.

For squat, we’ve included two training days of squatting so that athletes have enough frequency to practice the movement and build training volume to progress, but not so much that this program classifies as an intermediate or advanced approach. We’ve included light to moderate single repetitions from the very start to give athletes exposure to walking out and executing single reps. In later weeks, there may be some post-activation potentiation (PAP) from performing heavier single repetitions as well. We utilize multiple rep ranges to ensure maximum strength and hypertrophy. We’ve also included plenty of lower body training volume to allow for leg size increases, as well as strength.

For bench press, we include three movements per week because bench press especially can tolerate (and often need) more training volume and practice. To this end, we give new athletes a chance to practice pausing the bench on Day 4, practice with heavier loading as the program progresses, and plenty of training volume per week. In addition, we include lots of upper body training volume to grow.

For deadlift, we work on technique with the inclusion of paused work for much of the training approach. Training volume is lower here than squat or bench press by design, and the approach balances fatigue while allowing athletes to crush progress and set new PRs.

Over the whole approach, we use autoregulation to make sure athletes can change loads where needed to keep the program at the appropriate difficulty level. Beginner athletes especially progress at different rates, and we decided give both percentage and RPE for athletes to choose from. We’ve made this program with a four-week addition that you can use to run this program directly into a competition! The peak is also designed for first competitions, and we can’t wait to see what you accomplish.

TSA Beginner Program on Boostcamp App

TSA Beginner Program App
TSA Beginner Program - Boostcamp App TSA Beginner Program - Boostcamp App
Free

Prefer an app to a spreadsheet? If so, you're in luck!

Boostcamp has a free app version of TSA's Beginner Powerlifting Program that you can use directly from your phone.

It tracks your progress and calculates your lifts, just like a spreadsheet.

Works on iOS and Android.

Get TSA Beginner App
Lift Vault earns a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

TSA Beginner Approach Spreadsheet

via The Strength Athlete

TSA Beginner Approach | LiftVault.com

Avatar

About Kyle Risley

Kyle Risley founded Lift Vault in 2016 to make finding great powerlifting programs easier. Since then, the site has grown to include hundreds of programs for strength, bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, and more. He currently lives in Massachusetts and continues to compete in powerlifting.

Filed Under: 9 Week Programs, Powerlifting Program, Programs
Tagged With: 4 Day Split, 4 Day Workout Plan
Squat frequency: 2
Bench press frequency: 3
Deadlift frequency: 2

Related Posts

  • TSA 9 Week Intermediate Powerlifting Program (v1.0 + v2.0)

    September 21, 2019 Edit: Added v2.0 of the 9 Week Intermediate Powerlifting Program. Description from The Strength Athlete: We wrote this program as a nine-week program for an intermediate level powerlifter, with the goal of strength and proficiency in the squat, bench press, and deadlift.…

  • Powerlifting Academy 3 Day 16 Week Program Spreadsheet

    This is the Powerlifting Academy 16 week program spreadsheet, 3x weekly training version. There is also a 20 week version available. Powerlifting Academy 16 Week Program Overview 3x weekly training Competition lifts are the primary focus, but the following variations are also used: Squat Pause…

  • Tom McCullough 14 Week Peaking Powerlifting Program

    Edit: Updated to support lb or kg rounding. This 14 week peaking powerlifting program is similar to many other old school peaking programs on Lift Vault: 1x weekly session per lift, descending reps, increase intensity and a 5-10% 1 rep max increase at the end of…

  • 3 Day, 7 Week Raw Powerlifting Program

    Originally hosted by Mass-Lift, the 3 Day Raw Powerlifting Program is a no frills powerlifting program that has the athlete squatting 3 days per week, benching 3 days per week, and deadlifting 2 days per week (counting Romanian deadlifts). After the competition lifts, a rotating…

  • Classic 9 and 12 Week Powerlifting Peaking Program Spreadsheets

    As old as time itself, these peaking programs can be run for squat, bench, and deadlift when preparing for a powerlifting meet. Both seek to improve your 1 rep max by 5% after the end of the cycle. The differences between the 9 week and…

  • The 5 Best Beginner Powerlifting Programs in 2023

    There are so many powerlifting programs available that it can be confusing for a novice lifter to determine which program is right for them. Here are some of the most popular powerlifting programs for beginners. The following programs are chosen for their intelligent exercise choice,…

download-folder

Unlock The Vault!

Get lifetime access to every Lift Vault spreadsheet on Google Drive.

Download, bookmark, or browse. 

Popular Programs via App
Boostcamp App Boostcamp App
Free

Many of the most popular programs on Lift Vault are now available on a free app!

Boostcamp lets you track progress, calculate weight/sets/reps, and discover new programs - all for free!

Visit Boostcamp App

Latest Posts

  • MASS IMPACT Program from Geoffrey Verity Schofield
  • Michigan Powerlifting Records
  • Washington DC Powerlifting Records
  • Wyoming Powerlifting Records
  • Wisconsin Powerlifting Records

Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved · Lift Vault · Privacy Policy · Medical Disclaimer