PEAKING
• Training is organized & planned over various phases & implemented in a sequential manner.
• Through these phases of training & especially during the competitive phase, an athlete reaches certain training states one of of which is PEAKING.
• Peaking for a competition is very complex, cannot be realized on short notice but rather is attained in a sequential, cumulative manner.
Prior to the state of peaking, progress must be made in other training states.
1. Degree of Training
Represents the foundation on which other training states are based
• The degree of training may be:
*General, which signifies a adaptation to different forms of training, OR
*Specific, which signifies a high adaptation to the specific training requirements of a sport.
2. Athletic Shape
*Is understood to be an extension of the degree of training, during which the athletes may perform & attain results close to their maximum capacity.
*Also is generally understood to be the basis from which peaking is initiated.
Peaking
• Results in athlete’s best performance of the year
• Considered to be a temporary state of training when physical & psychological efficiencies are maximized & where the levels of technical & tactical preparation are optimal.
• Peaking is a superior, special biological state which is characterized
*by perfect health,
*optimal physiological state expressed through a quick adaptability to training stimuli &
*a very good rate of recovery following training or competition.
• From the psychological point of view, peaking is perceived as a state of readiness for action, with an intense emotional arousal.
FACTORS FACILITATING PEAKING
• There are several factors which have to be considered by the coach
• A correct manipulation of these factors insures that an athlete is likely to peak adequately for the competition of major interest
• High working capacity & quick rate of recovery
• Near perfect neuro-muscular coordination
• Overcompensation
• Unloading
• Recovery
• Motivation, arousal & psychological relaxation
• Nervous cell working capacity
• Competition peaks
• Number of peaks
• When the coach integrates all the above factors properly, peaking or the peak performance of the year takes place.
• An attempt to peak for almost all competitions would not be possible from the nervous cell working capacity & excitability point of view, exhaustion may occur.
*According to studies, it is believed that 7-10 competition are sufficient to reach high state of readiness for major competitions
*Also in an mono-cycle annual training plan most elite class athletes requires 32-36 micro-cycles to reach peak performance of the year
• On average, an athlete may require approximately 200 days of training before reaching an adequate physical 6 psychological capacity for peaking.
*In order to accomplish high performances every year, the degree of training has to be increased as well.
METHODS OF IDENTIFYING PEAKING
*is both difficult & controversial
• One of the most objective data seems to be the dynamics of the athlete’s performances
*Considering the past year’s personal best performance as a reference point (or 100%), the zone of high results considered to consist of performances not less than 2% below the reference point.
• When an athlete can achieve performances within 2 % of the best than it may be concluded that the athlete is in high athletic shape and close to peak performance.
*Also when the athlete reach performances close to peak, the adaptation to training is complete can be observed through low heart rate & some physiological tests.
• Peaking may also be identified by interpretation of subjective data such as: being alert, optimistic, good appetite, deep & resting sleep, high willingness in training & competitions & ease in everything the athlete does.
DURATION OF MAINTAINING PEAKING
*Duration of peaking is individualized
*the longer & more solid the preparatory phase, the higher the probability of prolonging the athletic shape & consequently peaking.
*duration of peaking may be affected by the number of competitions the athlete is exposed to.
*the longer the phase with weekly competitions, the lower the probability of duplicating high results.
• An important method to ensure adequate peaking is to prolong ability to peak
*Also the time required to reach peaking zone is of determinant importance.
*Although this might differ according to each athlete’s abilities, the average time needed to elevate the capacity from a precompetitive level to the peaking zone is about 4-6 micro-cycles
FACTORS WHICH MIGHT ADVERSELY AFFECT PEAKING
1. Factors Related to the Organization of Competition
Every unforeseen change in the conditions actually experienced at the competition may affect the athlete’s peaking & performance
2. Factors Related to an Athlete’s State
Unforeseen training & lifestyles such as inadequate sleep, use of alcohol, smoking & poor diet together with social dissatisfactions, reduce an athlete’s rate of recovery & thus adversely affecting training states.
3. Factors Related to Training & the Coach
*Improper training programs with high intensity, quick increases in intensity or too many scheduled competitions are not only stressful but also impair adequate peaking.
*A coach’s knowledge, attitude & behavior as well as ability or inability to disguise personal emotions & frustrations also affect an athlete’s performance
P.E.S. 331 TRAINING THEORY