What are the Divisions of Training Period in Physical Training?

Training period should be divided in well planned phases so that learning/teaching acquires the desired objectives. Thus depending on the athlete’s objectives and abilities, duration of each phase of training have to be adjusted to achieve appropriate development, refer following table:

Building Blocks

Each of training needs should be seen as a building block, where specific blocks need to be in place before one progresses to the next. Failure to do this may result in injury. How one allocates the blocks to each phase depends upon the athlete’s weaknesses and strengths and is for the coach to decide with the athlete. One approach is to progress the building blocks as follows:

Block 1:

Basic body conditioning.

Block 2:

General strength, endurance, mobility and technique. Block 3: Specific strength, endurance, mobility and technique. Block 4: Speed.

When progressing from one block to the next, remember to fade one out as the other comes in and not to switch from one block to the next overnight. Some blocks once started may continue to the end of the season but at a less intense level, e.g., mobility. Other blocks to consider are relaxation, visualisation and psychology (mental attitude).

Learning

Factors which influence the learning process are:

1. Motivation

2. Information structure

3. Initial level of learning experience,

4. External learning conditions

5. Rules and

6. Talent learning capacity.

There are three stages to learning a new skill and these are:

1. Cognitive Stage: It is identification and development of the component parts of the skill.

2. Associative Stage: It is linking the component parts into a smooth action.

3. Autonomous Stage: Autonomous stage involves developing the learned skill so that it becomes automatic.

The leaning of physical skills requires the relevant movements to be assembled, component by component, using feedback to shape and polish them into a smooth action. Rehearsal of the skill must be done regularly and correctly.

Strategies and Tactics

Strategies are also a part of the plans which we prepare in advance of a competition, and are able to place an individual or team in a winning position. Tactics are now we put these strategies into action. Athletes in the associative phase of learning will not be able to cope with strategies, but the athlete in the autonomous phase should be able to apply strategies and tactics. In order to develop strategies and tactics we need to know:

1. Environmental factors

2. The strengths and weaknesses of the opposition,

3. Our own strengths and weaknesses,

Basic Principles of Fitness Training

The basic principles of fitness training are summed up in the acronym FITT.

1. F- Frequency-how often

2. I- Intensity-how hard

3. T-Time- how long

4. T-Type – the type of training (strength, endurance, etc.) General Annual Training Programmes

Training programmes should be distributed in annual programmes for various game events. The following are examples of basic training programmes for the:

1. Throw events – Discus, Shot, Javelin and Hammer

2. Jump events – High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump and Pole Vault

3. Endurance events – 800 m, 1500 m, 5 k, 10 k, Walks and Steeplechase.

4. Sprint events – 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 4 x 100 m, relay and 4 x 400 m relay.

These suggested programmes are more suitable for the young athlete or for the mature suitable for the young athlete or for the mature athlete who is just starting out in Track and Field athletics.