ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the science of tapering and peaking, and to articulate the key components of a tapering phase to ensure event/competition day performance is optimised. The findings of these studies will be discussed in more detail to provide general recommendations for optimising tapering strategies. High-intensity training in particular must not be compromised during the tapering period and is necessary to achieve an improvement in performance when large reductions in volume and frequency are also implemented. Tapering is a short-term strategy used over approximately the last 2 weeks prior to a major competition. The components of training load – volume, frequency and intensity – should be considered separately when designing the taper to achieve the optimal balance between overcoming accumulated fatigue and maximising performance. Optimal adaptation to training occurs when the training load is prescribed in an appropriate manner over time.
