How to develop the training model
To be successful, athletes and coaches from different sports need to develop and follow specific and individualised training models to maximise the athlete’s performance. Functional fitness will not be very different when it comes to developing and implementing good training models.
The development of a training model starts with the INTERPRETATION OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE. Here, the coach is learning which rules to follow and understanding what the sport requires when it comes to the physical and psychological demands of the athletes.
After that, a “TESTING PROGRAM” should be implemented to evaluate where the athlete stands and create a plan that will lead the athlete from that starting point to the end goal. For example, regardless of the athlete’s ability at the start, I’ll have a battery of tests in addition to the direct marks that the 1 RMS can give us, which will help me understand the exact level of said athlete.
After evaluating the athlete, it is crucial to INTERPRET THE TESTING DATA and address any unexpected weaknesses. This is so the coach can start to prioritise what the athlete needs to develop most. At this point, the DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRAINING MODEL for that specific athlete can start.
When IMPLEMENTING THE TRAINING MODEL, the coach must accept that this has to be more of a dynamic implementation and not so much of a static one, and the training model must be MONITORED. For example, after a competition in 2023, one of my athletes reported that he was struggling with certain percentages in specific lifts. Following that report, I EVALUATED THE TRAINING MODEL, understood what was going wrong and corrected my prescription for that athlete. Then I kept monitoring the situation to ensure no more maladaptations were happening.
Parameters to monitor and evaluate this situation can include load progression, training intensity, and training volume, all of which can impact an athlete’s physical and psychological outcome.
When validating the training model, we should use the competitions that the athlete is participating in. If the athlete is successful in competitions, the model can be validated. However, the coach needs to understand that this whole process is dynamic, and the athlete can outgrow the current model if he is highly successful.
A final note should be made on the individualisation of these models. The more individualised the training model is to an athlete, the greater the chance of succeeding and growing at the best possible pace for their potential.
In my coaching and programming mentorship, I use the diagram below to talk through this model, explaining what goes into each phase and how we can make the most of the whole process. This diagram can be seen in Tudor O. Bompa’s book “PERIODIZATION” - a must-read for anyone who wants to coach and prescribe for any sport.
Eddie
