ABSTRACT
In order to achieve consistent improvements in health and skill-related components of fitness, a long-term fitness programme design strategy should be adopted which incorporates planned, systematic variations in intensity, volume, frequency and exercise selection (Matveyev, 1972; Plisk & Stone, 2003; Siff, 2003). Manipulating training variables as part of a long-term training strategy to enhance performance is known as periodisation. The main goals of periodisation are to optimise training adaptations and prevent accommodation (see Chapter 7). The contemporary concept of periodisation can be traced back to the 1960s based on the experience of elite sport coaches and findings of scientists in the former Soviet Union (Matveyev, 1964). Periodisation was formulated for elite athletes to achieve specific adaptations and performance outcomes at exact time points; for example, a 1500-metre runner achieving peak fitness for a major championship. Periodisation also allowed coaches to manage athletes’ fatigue and reduce the likelihood of the athletes experiencing an injury, illness or a decline in performance.
