ABSTRACT
Sports physiology is concerned with how the body reacts to physical training and competition. Many physiological characteristics impact on an athlete’s performance, ranging from visible factors like gender and body size to the complex biochemical processes that cause muscle contraction at the molecular level. While a coach may not need to have an in-depth knowledge of all these processes and reactions, a grasp of the key aspects of physiology and how they relate to sports performance is essential for the optimal preparation of athletes. The aim of this chapter is to examine a number of these aspects, thus giving coaches an understanding of how to maximise the fitness levels of athletes. In terms of structure, the physiological processes that determine human performance over a range of durations are initially outlined. This is followed by a discussion of the value of
Key sections:
assessing the physical demands of the sport in question and athletes’ individual needs to maximise performance. Penultimately, training considerations and techniques aimed at improving both general and specific areas of fitness are highlighted, before a conclusion summarises the principal points made.
