ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the purpose of a season plan and describes the contents of a season plan. It explains periodization, individualization, peaking and tapering. Season planning is an integral feature of any coach's work, and should form the basis from which to facilitate and enhance performance throughout the season and beyond. Bompa suggests that the planning process is a structured, methodical, scientific procedure to help athletes achieve optimal levels of training effectiveness and performance. A season plan can also be influenced by a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis. If the coach requires more depth of understanding of training methodology and periodization principles, Bompa and Galvin and Ledger provide a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the concepts and processes involved. Individualization is a complex process and the coach needs to consider a wide range of impacting factors when constructing an individualized training programme. Peaking and tapering is another complex process within the complexities of planning, periodization and individualization.
