ABSTRACT
Training variation is a critical aspect of effective training prescription (Fleck, 1999; Stone et al., 2000) to avoid diminished training responses and in more serious cases the detrimental effects on performance associated with training maladaptation (Maughan and Gleeson, 2004e). Periodisation offers a framework for manipulating training prescription to provide planned and systematic variation of training parameters (Brown and Greenwood, 2005; Plisk and Stone, 2003; Rhea et al., 2002). In addition to avoiding potential negative effects of training monotony, this approach also affords the coach the means to progressively direct training adaptations over successive training cycles to specific training outcomes. Finally, periodisation provides the facility to integrate multiple training components into the planning and scheduling of the training year.
