Planning
Free articles and resources exploring principles of planning in track and field.
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Free articles and resources exploring principles of planning in track and field.
This chart provides a general overview of the optimal distances, intensity, rest, progression, and daily training loads for developing the different components of speed, speed endurance, special endurance and tempo running.
Athletes need to plan and periodise their training load to enhance performance and prevent injury. This involves balancing periods of intense training (loading) with strategic reductions in training volume (unloading), such as planned breaks or rest periods. The time it takes to return to full training load after unloading is proportional to the length of the reduced workload.
Read the full article to learn the main considerations of manipulating training load for optimal athlete adaptation and performance.
This High Performance Town Hall explores the importance of a comprehensive training program for athletes, focusing on the “whole athlete” and the role of communication, and planning.
Master Coach, Susan Hobson, and AA Dietitian Lead, Bryce Anderson, highlight the crucial elements beyond just physical training, including nutrition, sleep, recovery, and mental health, and how these should be integrated into the program.
Training young athletes is a delicate balance of enhancing performance while ensuring safety, longevity, and enjoyment in sports. Overtraining can lead to burnout or injury, while undertraining may limit athletic potential. For junior athletes, particularly those aged 12-18 in track and field, the correct training loads are crucial to optimizing their development while preventing injury.
This article discusses the recommended training loads for young athletes, focusing on the balance between technique, strength training, and recovery. We’ll explore research-backed guidelines and provide insights into how to tailor programs for individual athletes’ needs.
Track and field coaches must recognize that periodization is not just about varying training loads and intensities but encompasses a multifaceted approach. A well-designed periodization plan should integrate recovery, nutrition, psychological preparation, and skill acquisition to optimize athlete performance. Coaches should focus on structuring training cycles that include strategic recovery phases, tapering before competitions, and managing the cognitive load of skill-based training. The key is balancing hard training with adequate rest and recovery, ensuring athletes peak at the right moments without risking overtraining.
Both male and female athletes who are more successful in young age categories (U18 and U20) were more likely to achieve success as a senior than less successful young athletes. Female athletes who were successful when young were more likely to maintain athletic success as a senior when compared to young males. A significant proportion of senior athletes (both male and female) were not successful in any of the young age categories.
Training frequency is considered an important variable in the hypertrophic response to regimented resistance exercise. The purpose of this paper was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies designed to investigate the effects of weekly training frequency on hypertrophic adaptations.
explore evidence-based strategies for coaches to effectively reduce central nervous system (CNS) fatigue in athletes. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the mechanisms of CNS fatigue and implementing tailored training, recovery, and mental conditioning techniques.
Learn from three of Australia’s leading High Performance coaches as they describe their preparation for the upcoming 2024 Olympics and Paralympics. Hear from Sprints Coach Andrew Murphy, Jumps lead Alex Stewart, and Distance guru Philo Saunders as they explain how elilte athletes will optimise their condition prior to a major championships.
The article will introduce the principles of internal and external training load and encourage you to monitor both internal and external load measurements of your athletes.
Australian Level 4 High Performance sprints coach, Paul Pearce, explains his approach to training and weekly training structure for his sprinting group.
This commentary from the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy argues that runners and coaches should move beyond solely focusing on weekly distance when quantifying and monitoring training load. The authors explain that running distance is only one aspect of training stress and fails to capture the full picture of the mechanical, physiological, and psychological demands of running.