Organizational Components of Training for Sport

Organizational Components of Training for Sport

In order to effectively construct a training program one must first organize the designated training parameters. The organization of training is essential in order to most optimally prepare any athlete for the challenges inherent to excelling at any particular sport or activity.

“Organization of training means its regulation within a concrete time span (stage, period), which ensures the planned dynamics of state and the achievement of the planned level of SPP. The basis of such regulation should be the achievement of the positive cumulative training-effect of the loading of different primary emphasis. Here, it is necessary to observe the chief requirement—preservation of the training-potential of the loading.” (1)

Every physical task may be trained for and, accordingly, the subsequent development of abilities will heighten the athlete’s level of performance. What is of primary importance, however, is the systematic organization of various and appropriate training methods. Many learned and developed motor skills are significantly perishable; for that reason, the systematic sequencing and integration of training methods and means has a tremendous effect on the long term development and retention of motor abilities.

In regards to the development of multiple motor abilities, specifically when considering athletes of lower classification, the Complex method of training has proven to be the most favorable. “The complex form, which encompasses simultaneous (within one workout or micro-cycle) and parallel (prolonged stages of training, up to one year) selection of a number of training tasks and loading of different primary emphasis, is always regarded as the most effective form of training construction. In the past, considerable data was favorable to the complex organization of training. This data showed that the athlete achieves harmonious
and multi-sided physical development; the development of one motor ability contributes to the development of others and that multi-sided loading improves strength, speed of movement and endurance to a greater extent than unidirectional exercise (A.N. Krestovnikov, 1951; S.P. Letunov, et al., 1954; N.V. Zimkin, 1956; A.V. Korobkov et al, 1960, and others).” (1)

Note- (When considering the level of classification of any sportsman, with respect to weight training, it is extremely important to recognize the distinction between elite athletes and elite weightlifters. In most cases, an elite athlete is not an elite weightlifter, and it is for this very reason why most athletes are not sufficiently prepared or capable of tolerating the same training parameters [in the weight room], nor must they be compared to, elite weightlifters.)

There are many different approaches available for organizing training. From a global perspective, however, one may either employ Complex loading Concentrated (Linear) loading. The Linear method, or Linear/Western Periodization, in contrast to the Complex method, is a form of Concentrated loading which entails workouts or micro cycles devoted to the development of a single motor ability. Linear periodization training cycles are traditionally performed with little to no training volume allotted to the development or maintenance of other motor abilities. Accordingly, as the athlete proceeds from one phase of training to the next a detraining effect occurs in the motor abilities which were developed during previous phases. Additionally, when high intensity phases (e.g., limit strength) are introduced after long periods of lower intensity training phases (e.g., hypertrophy or GPP) injury is likely to occur as the organism is insufficiently prepared to tolerate the high intensity training parameters which have been neglected in previous phases. Thus, the Linear method possesses the probability of yielding diminishing returns when performed over the long term. Regardless of which approach or template is utilized, the emphasis must be to ensure the systematic sequencing of training methods and loading. This systematizing of all training parameters will ensure the steady and long term development of motor abilities.

After having identified the particular method of organization which is to be utilized, a necessary task is recognizing the physiological stressors inherent to the execution of the sport or activity and their impact on the neuromuscular system.

Every sport or physical activity imposes certain stressors to the organism (the human body). One must make every effort to quantify the level of stress (either predominantly to the CNS, the muscular system, or both) which is sustained by the sportsman during sport practice and competition. “CNS work and power work are synonymous. Anytime the athlete is focusing on maximum speed and explosion or explosiveness the CNS is being taxed. Properly executed (intense) medicine ball work, starts, acceleration work, and weight work using heavy loads all represent different types of CNS work.” (2) Having recognized the physiological stress, which is imposed by skill practice and competition, one may more effectively construct and organize the training parameters to be employed in the weight room, or any other area where physical abilities are developed.

Different types of stressors impact the organism in different ways. CNS fatigue (central) and local muscular fatigue (peripheral) are two entirely different results of imposed stress which may be sustained either during training or competition. CNS fatigue requires a significantly longer recovery period than muscular fatigue. When considering CNS stress imposed by weight training, observe the following: “The degree to which high loads and low repetitions are used will determine the loading on the CNS. Repetitions are the key factor. Loads that permit a high number of repetitions (more than 8) will result in cross-section gains in muscle, but loads which permit only a small number of repetitions (2-5) challenge the CNS and are accompanied by gains in power with little or no change in muscle cross-section.” (2) Hence, while organizing and programming all training parameters, one must make every effort to sequence high CNS stress training days with moderate to low CNS stress training days. “Complete recovery from CNS work is critical and will require at least 48 hours before a similar CNS work session is repeated.” (2) In order to accomplish this sequencing, one must have already identified the level and type of fatigue imposed by all training, competition, and even psycho-social stressors.

Having already identified the importance of sequencing CNS intensive training days with low or non-CNS intensive training days, another fundamentally important consideration of training organization is the identification of the motor skills which are necessary for excelling at the particular sport or task. 

Every sport demands that the sportsmen have already developed general physical preparedness (GPP), however, in order to excel in any particular sport, especially at the elite level, the sportsmen must develop certain motor skills above and beyond GPP. These special skills which are specifically required to excel at any particular sport, together, comprise special physical preparedness (SPP).

As an athlete progresses through the various stages of physical, technical, tactical, and psycho-social development, the need for developing SPP becomes more and more pronounced. For many athletes there exists a distinct correlation between their level of classification and the training volume which must be allotted to the development of SPP. The lower the classification, which usually coincides with a younger training age, requires less of an emphasis on the development of SPP and more emphasis on developing GPP. Alternatively, athletes of higher classifications require that the predominance of training volume be dedicated to the development of SPP. Subsequently, these considerations are of paramount importance when organizing the training parameters which are to be structured into the program.

Having recognized the importance of an organized training approach, the value of waving CNS intensive/non-intensive training days and the significance of identifying the motor skills which are specific to the sport or activity in question, another task of invaluable significance is the selection of training methods and means which serve to develop the general and specific motor qualities inherent to the training goal.

When selecting various training methods and means, to be employed in the program, one must maintain a cognitive awareness of the pre-existing stressors of competition and sport/skill practice. Although a particular training method may be of tremendous use in the abstract (e.g., when CNS intensive external stressors are low to non-existent) that same method may prove to yield disastrous consequences when executed during periods of frequent competition, or sport/skill practice, in which CNS stress may be very high.

There are many methods of developing special strength as it pertains to the heightened ability to more optimally express sport skill. As has already been discussed; the Complex method of training has proven to be optimal for athletes of lower classification. Remember though, we must make the distinction between elite athletes and elite weightlifters. Thus, for many elite athletes (e.g., team sport and combat sport athletes), the Complex method of organizing training may be very effective, especially in the prepatory phase in which a multi-faceted approach to developing various motor skills may prove to be optimal.

The Complex method is synonymous with the Concurrent system of training in which several motor abilities may be developed in parallel. When considering the Complex/Concurrent systems of organizing training one may advance the organizational process by integrating a system of sequencing multiple complex training variables. This sequencing of many motor skills may be arranged in series so as to systematically impose phases of intense uni-directional loading on a targeted motor ability while concurrently maintaining the multi-lateral development or retention of all other motor abilities. This advanced method of organizing training is known as the Conjugate Sequence System. “When speaking of special strength training methods, one should turn particular attention to the so-called conjugate method. Essentially, it consists of the momentary influence on the key motor quality to the interconnections corresponding to the specific activity, while preserving the structure of the sport exercise. The conjugate method secures strength development in synthesis with other key qualities while preserving their rational interrelationships to the muscle groups. Furthermore, it furthers perfection of technique by preserving the structure of the sport movement.” (3)

As with any practical realization of the theoretical-analytical process, a certain component of creativity must be imparted. Additionally, along with creativity, a global perspective must be maintained in order to avoid a jagged and incongruent approach to training organization. There exists a myriad of various materials available for review in text format. Regardless of the proven efficacy, based on the well founded and widely accepted research of any presented abstract, any assimilation or learning of material in text format is an academic process. The training of athletes, however, is a dynamic, organic, and ever evolving process in which the coach must be prepared to accommodate the many external and uncontrollable factors which affect athletes. Thus, when organizing all task specific training parameters every effort must be demonstrated in order to maintain a cognitive awareness of the dynamic-organic process of training athletes. Subsequently, the simultaneous organization of the various components of training will serve to realize the long term development of motor abilities and, in turn, facilitate the advanced expression of sport skill.

(1) Verkhoshansky, Y.V.: Programming and Organization of Training. Fizkultura i Spovt, 1985, Sportivny Press: 1988

(2) Francis, C.: The Charlie Francis Training System. Faccioni Speed and Conditioning Consultant: 1997

(3) Laputin, N.P. and Oleshko, V.G.: Managing the Training of Weightlifters. Zdorov’ya: 1982, Sportivny Press (date not listed)