for teaching sport science

1. IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory
Planning a Training Year
IAAF CECS Level III

2. Planning the Training Programme
• The Long Term plan – all training should be planned so that
it is suitable for the long term development of the athlete’s
potential.
Stage 1
Kids’ Athletics
Stage 2
Multi-Events
Stage 3
Event Group
Development
Stage 4
Specialisation
Stage 5
Performance
Training Age
(years)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 +
Optimum
Biological Age
6-9 8-11 10-13 12-14 13-15 14-16 15-17 16-18 17-19 18-20+
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 2

3. Review of Level II
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 3
• The training year can be divided into ‘periods’ of training
• This gives structure, progression and variety to the
training
• There are three main periods of training:
– Preparation
– Competition
– Transition
• Periodisation helps in the long term development of the
athlete.

4. Periodisation
- what to do and when to do it
There are three main periods of training:
• Preparation
• Competition
• Transition.
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 4

5. Review of Periodisation at Level II
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 5
Session
Macrocycle
Preparation, Competition, Transition
Microcycle

6. The Terms of Periodisation
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 6
Macrocycle
Period
Phase
Mesocycle
Microcycle
Session
Unit

7. Periodisation - Training Cycles
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 7
• Macrocycle:
– Preparation, Competition (and Transition) Periods
– the time available for preparation up to a major goal
or competition
• Phases: General Preparation Phase, Specific
Preparation Phase, Pre-Competition Phase and
Competition Phase
• Mesocycle:
– A series of 3-7 microcycles with a specific objective
• Microcycle:
– shorter training cycle (usually 7 days) sequencing
several training sessions
• Unit: a part of a session with a specific objective.

8. Periods and Phases of the Macrocycle
Preparation Period
Competition Period
General Preparation
Phase
Specific Preparation
Phase
Pre-Competition
Phase
Competition
Phase
Transition Period
Transition Phase
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 8

9. • Periodisation:
the division of the overall training programme into
durations of time which accomplish different,
cumulative, goals
• Peaking:
the manipulation of training variables to maximise
potential for competition performance, at the ‘right’ time.
The Process of Periodisation and
Peaking
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 9

10. The Macrocyle -
Planning Peak Performance
Periodisation
PREPARATION PERIOD COMPETITION PERIOD
COMPETITION PHASE
GENERAL
PREPARATION
PHASE
SPECIFIC
PREPARATION
PHASE
PRE-
COMPETITION
PHASE
Volume
Intensity
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 10
Athletic Shape
Time of highest risk for injury/illness

11. Creating the Annual Plan
What steps are important in this?
• describe how to plan an annual
plan for an athlete - to someone
who knows nothing about planning
• you are limited to at least four but
no more than eight major steps
• what might these steps in the
process be?
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 11

12. Designing the Annual Plan
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 12
Step 1 Evaluation – Feedback and Feedforward
Step 2 Decide the structure of the annual plan - whether a
single, double or multi-periodised year is optimum
Step 3 Decide the objectives and duration of the Periods
and Phases
Step 4 Decide the objectives and duration for Mesocycles
and Microcycles
Step 5 Quantify the Training Loads within mesocycles:
volume, intensity and recovery
Step 6 Plan for monitoring and ongoing evaluation.
Are these steps the same for every athlete and for every athlete’s programme?

13. Step 1: Feedback - Feedforward
Planning
Training Performance
New / Modified
Plan
Evaluation
Adapted from Balyi, I, 1997
Start Point
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 13

14. Goal-Setting - Part of Step 1
S
M
A
R
T
E
R
Specific
Measurable
Agreed
Realistic
Time phased
Exciting
Recorded.
Goal-setting is a shared activity where the athlete, guided by
the coach, creates short, medium and long term goals –
with effective goals tending to be ‘SMARTER’ goals:
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 14

15. Example of a Single Periodised Year
in either Hemisphere.
OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP
PREPARATION
COMPETITION TRANSITION
GENERAL SPECIFIC
JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY
Southern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
Step 2: Decide the structure
of the Annual Plan
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 15

16. JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP
MACROCYCLE 1 MACROCYCLE 2
PREPARATION 1 COMP. 1 PREPARATION 2 COMPETITION 2
TRANS.
GPP1 SPP1 PC1 C1 GPP2 SPP2 PC2 C2
SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY
Period:
Phase:
JUN JUL AUG
Southern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
OCT NOV DEC
Example of a Double Periodised Year
in either Hemisphere.
Step 2: Decide the structure
of the Annual Plan

17. Single vs. Double Periodisation
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 17
Single Periodisation
Advantages
• significantly more time to
develop basic performance
capacities
• plenty of time available for
training and recovery
Disadvantages
• boredom through lack of
variety
• potential lack of
competitions.

18. Single vs. Double Periodisation
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 18
Advantages
• provides increases in
performance – provided
foundation is solid
• two opportunities to ‘peak’
in the year
• higher specific training load
• more intensive technique
training possible
Disadvantages
• there is limited time to
acquire basic abilities and
performance capacities
• the second preparation
period is often subject to
time pressures
• there may be less time for
recovery.
Double Periodisation

19. MACROCYCLE 1 MACROCYCLE 2 MACROCYCLE 3
PREP1 COMP 1 PREP 2 COMP 2 PREP 3 COMP 3
TRANS.
GPP1 SPP1 PC1 C1
GPP
2
SPP 2 PC 2 C 2 GPP 3 SPP 3 PC 3 C 3
SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY
Period:
Phase:
JUN JUL AUG
Southern Hemisphere
The Triple Periodised Year
Northern Hemisphere
OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP
Step 2: Decide the structure of the Annual
Plan
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 19
An athlete in the Performance stage may use a ‘Triple
Periodised Year’ or multi-periodised year.

20. 6 - 9 9 - 12 12 - 15 15 - 17 17 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 39 40 +
Chronological Age:        
Maturation: EARLY AVERAGE LATE
  
Basic Skills: * NO YES
 
Training Age: < 2 2 - 4 5 - 9 10 +
  
Estimated
Biological Age:
6 - 9 9 - 12 12 - 15 15 - 17 17 - 19 20 - 29

30 - 39 40 +
      
Potential for
Periodised
Annual Plan: **
NO
PERIODISATION
SINGLE
PERIODISATION
SINGLE/DOUBLE
PERIODISATION
SINGLE/DOUBLE/MULTIPLE
PERIODISATION
 
 
Suitable for
AD stages: Kids’ Athletics
Event Group Development
(Training Ages 5-7)
Specialisation
(Training Ages 8-9)
Performance
Multi-Events
Thompson, P.J.L. 2002, 2005, 2007
 Tick the appropriate boxes – start at the top level and work down, ticking only one box at each level

Determining the Athlete Development Stage and Structure of the Annual Plan
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 20
* The basic skills of ABC’s + ABC’s of Athletics + KGB’s + CKS = Physical Literacy
** Although there may be the potential for a double or multiple periodised annual plan, there will be additional factors which impact on this choice.

21. Step 3: Decide the objectives and
duration of the Periods and Phases
• The objectives and duration of
the Periods and Phases will
be determined by the stage of
Athlete Development
• For an athlete in the
Specialisation or Performance
stages the objectives will be
more event-related and driven
by the needs for competition
preparation.
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 21

22. Step 3: Decide the Duration of Periods
and Phases
general
general
general
general
specific
specific
specific
Kids’ Athletics
Stage
Multi-Event Specialisation Performance
specific
general
Event Group
Development
0 %
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 22
Relative percentages General and Specific Preparation Phases
100 %

23. Steps 4 and 5 -
Mesocycle and Microcycle Planning
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 23
Step 4: Decide the objectives and duration for the
mesocycles and microcycles
• The content of the mesocycle and microcycle is dependent on
how far or how close to the Competition Phase
Step 5: Quantify the training loads within mesocycles
• Indicate the total physical, technical, tactical and
psychological training loads of each microcycle within the
mesocycles.

24. Step 6: Testing and Monitoring
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 24
can be used to:
• assess the athlete at beginning of a training block
• monitor growth and development
• diagnose strengths and weaknesses
• ‘predict’ future performance
• assess the success of a training programme
• provide motivation and confidence to both athlete and
coach
• give warning of staleness, over-training and the possible
onset of illness or injury
• place athletes in homogeneous training groups
• add variety to a training programme.

25. The Annual Plan - Sample Single Periodised
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 25

26. The Annual Plan - Sample Double Periodised
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 26

27. The Annual Plan - Sample Multi-Periodised
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28. Thank you for your attention and
contributions
IAAF CECS Level III Common Coaching Theory 28