The Definition of Periodisation

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The Definition of Periodisation

Periodisation

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Anderson (1997) offers us a simple definition of periodisation he says

that it

‘simply means the division of your overall training into periods which

accomplish different goals’

Wilmore and Costill (1994) interestingly define the term with

reference to overtraining, they define periodisation in their glossary

as ‘Varying the training stimulus over discrete periods of time to

prevent overtraining’.

Overtraining and Associated Definitions

Fry et al (1991) provides us with the following definitions:

Overload training:

The process of stressing an individual to provide a stimulus for

adaptation and supercompensation.

Training fatigue/stress:

Is the normal fatigue experienced following several days of heavy

training associated with overload stimulus. Fatigue is reversed and

supercompensation achieved within the last few days of a reduced

training period.

Overtraining:

Is the general term which indicates that the individual has been

stressed by training and extraneous stressors to the extent that he/

she can not perform at an optimum level following an appropriate

recovery period. A drop in performance is necessary for overtraining

diagnosis.

Overreaching:

Follows the intentional or unintentional induction of short term

overtraining. The symptoms of overreaching can be reversed with a

longer than usual recovery period.

Overtraining syndrome:

Is the state of chronically depressed performance accompanied by one

or more of the more serious symptoms. The overtraining syndrome will

require a significantly longer recovery period than is required with

overreaching.

Training stressors:

Are those resulting from the physical, physiological and psychological

stress induced by the training workload from overload training.

Extraneous stressors:

Those resulting from activities and psychological forces related to

lifestyle.

Supercompensation:

A state of heightened work capacity, above that of which the athlete

has recently been capable.

Training Cycles

Microcycle

Commonly as ‘simply a number of training sessions which form a

recurrent unit’ (Anderson 1998).

These microcycles typically last a number of days, a week is common

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