Coach gives tips for trainers
May 07 2008 04:03:50:163PM  - (SA)  

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“One of the most important responsibilities of a coach is planning the athletes’ training programme.

“He or she usually looks at what the athletes want to achieve during the year and divides the year into a number of periods,” he said.

Each of these pe?riods have specific training objectives. The major objective is to bring the athlete to the most important competitions of the year – fully prepared and in a physical and mental state to perform at levels never previously achieved.

The three main periods of any training programme is preparation, competition and transition. . Preparation period: the first and longest training period.

All-round fitness is developed by gradually increasing the volume of training and emphasizing the energy systems used in the event. . Competition period: The volume of training is gradually reduced and intensity is increased.

Heavier weights can be lifted. The speed of specific runs should be faster with longer recovery times.

Training loads should be heavy enough to keep the athlete’s fitness improving and light enough to keep the athlete enthusiastic. . Transition period: This comes at the end of a season – an “active rest”.

The main objectives are to allow the athlete an opportunity to recover mentally and physically from the training loads of the preparation and competition periods.

Athletes should be encouraged to try different types of low-volume, low-intensity activities away from the usual training environment.

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