Design a Basic Sport

Program:
Reference Material

Version 1.2, 2007 © Coaching Association of Canada

Version 1.2, 2007 © Coaching Association of Canada
 Design a Basic Sport Program: Reference Material

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1
Background Information...........................................................................................................1
Key Concepts.........................................................................................................................2
Sport Program......................................................................................................................2
Sport Form............................................................................................................................3
Overview of the Athlete’s Long-term Development.............................................................6
Early Specialization Sports...................................................................................................8
Definitions of Athletic Abilities..............................................................................................9
Importance of Physical and Motor Abilities by Sport Family............................................10
Athletic Abilities: Growth and Development Considerations...........................................13
Sample Sport Programs for Different Sport Families........................................................16
Types of Exercises and Their Use in Different Phases of a Sport Program....................25
Activity Planning Guidelines for Various Stages of Skill Development...........................26
Combining Athletic Abilities in Training ...............................................................................29

Section 2
Detailed Information on Sport Programs...............................................................................30
Structure of a Sport Program..............................................................................................32
Periods and Phases of a Sport Program.............................................................................32
Types of Sport Programs....................................................................................................33
Long-term Athlete Development.........................................................................................35
General Recommendations ...............................................................................................35
Challenges............................................................................................................................37
Logistical Constraints..........................................................................................................37
Developmental Needs and Athletes’ Interests ....................................................................37

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Reference Material

Athletic Development..........................................................................................................37
Common Issues and Possible Solutions............................................................................38
Training Objectives and Methods.......................................................................................41
Types of Objectives in a Sport Program..............................................................................41
Objectives of Periods and Phases of Seasonal Sport Programs.........................................42
Types of Exercises and Their Use in Different Phases of a Sport Program....................45
General Exercises..............................................................................................................45
Specific Exercises...............................................................................................................45
Competition Exercises .......................................................................................................46
The Use of Exercises in Different Phases of a Sport Program............................................48
Training Specific Athletic Abilities......................................................................................49
Motor Athletic Abilities (Agility, Balance, Coordination).......................................................52
Progression Parameters in a Sport Program.....................................................................53

Acknowledgements, References,
and Glossary............................................................................................................................56
Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................57
References............................................................................................................................58
Glossary................................................................................................................................59

Appendices..............................................................................................................................62
Appendix 1 — General Process for Designing a Sport Program: Key Steps..................63
Determine the General Orientation of the Program.............................................................63
Establish the Structure of Your Program.............................................................................63
Determining the Training Priorities, Objectives, and Methods of a Given Week of Your
Program .............................................................................................................................64

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Reference Material

Appendix 2 — The Selection of Athletes............................................................................66

Possible Negative Impacts of Selection..............................................................................66
Selection Procedure and Criteria........................................................................................67
Appendix 3 — Sample Planning Worksheets.....................................................................70

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

SECTION 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

KEY CONCEPTS

Sport Program
A sport program is a planned and progressive sequencing of activities. The nature, number,
frequency, duration, and content of these activities is adapted to athletes' age and sport
experience. The goal of the program is to foster athletes' athletic development and sport form
over time.

Main Components of a Sport Program

Time Dimension: A program…

 Usually has a well-defined beginning and end

 Is of varying length (ranging from a few weeks to several months)

 Is part of the long-term development of the athletes: where they’re starting, what they’ve
done before, and what they should be able to do at the end of the program are all taken
into account
Events: A program consists of different types of events…

 Sport events (practices, preparatory competition, regular competition, trials, playoffs,

championships, tournaments, tests, etc.)

 Social events (suppers, parties, awards ceremonies, distribution of prizes, etc.)

 Administrative events (registration, equipment purchase, fund raising, parent meetings,

meetings with league/club administrators, etc.)
Intentions, Objectives, and Priorities: A program…

 Takes into account athletes, their interests, and their individual needs

 Takes into account the competitive demands of the sport

 Has a clear purpose and philosophy (why it exists), focus (participation, development,
excellence), desired outcome (goals and objectives), and method of operating (rules,
policies, procedures)

 Priorizes objectives, events, time devoted to certain activities, etc., given any constraints
that apply

 Makes its intentions, objectives, and priorities public, which helps justify choices and
decisions

 Has intentions, objectives, and priorities that are consistent with the values of the coach
and the organization

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Structure: A program…

 Proposes activities that are organized and planned (level of detail and sophistication
may vary)

 Proposes a framework for providing certain services to athletes

 Proposes links and ensures consistency among components (objectives, philosophy,

priorities, athlete individual needs, activities, events)
Progression: A program is characterized by…

 Intentions, objectives, and priorities that may change as the season progresses

 Evolving training activities and content, to reflect the intentions, objectives, and priorities
that apply at a given time
Adjustment and Evaluation: Within a program…

 Athletes progress from a given starting point; this progression may occur in different
ways: group/team cohesion; technical/tactical mastery; physical condition and tolerance
of fatigue; attitudes (work, athletes’ behaviour, commitment, discipline); performance,
etc.

 The coach must assess athletes' starting point to identify what can realistically be
accomplished in the short, medium, and long term and choose the appropriate methods
for doing so: such decisions normally require some form of evaluation

 It must be accepted that adjustments will probably be required en route, even if the initial
plans were carefully laid out

Sport Form
Sport form refers to the level of development of athletic abilities at a given time compared to
what is required in competition.
In other words, sport form represents the athlete’s level of readiness, from a physical, technical,
tactical, and mental point of view, to meet the requirements of competition.
Sport form is therefore specific to:

 The sport

 The age and gender of the athletes

 The level of competition in which they take part

Progression of Sport Form

The first goal of training is to help athletes develop their sport form. However, it is important to
know that sport form cannot constantly progress throughout an entire program; nor can it
constantly be maintained at its highest level.

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Generally speaking, sport form evolves according to a non-linear pattern during a season or
throughout a program. There is quick improvement in the beginning, a slowing down after
several weeks, and finally a levelling off. Sport form can obviously decrease (go back to a
previous level) if training is interrupted, for example, following a transition phase or if an injury
occurs.
The following figure shows the general phases of sport form during a single season.

Peak
Stabilization
to a Good
Consolidation
Sport Level
Form Decline
Building

Program Duration (Weeks)

Beginning of the Body of the Weeks following the end

Program Program of the Program

Building Sport Form

During the building phase of sport form, there are two primary objectives: (1) develop the basic
athletic abilities (physical, motor, and technical) and (2) progressively increase the amount of
work that athletes can carry out. During the building phase, the intensity of the exercises and
activities is not very high. Consequently, sport form is lower than will be observed later in the
program. This is a very important phase of any program because it helps to build the
foundations of sport form.
Consolidating and Stabilizing Sport Form
The second and third phases (consolidation, stabilization) of sport form are characterized by an
increase and a levelling off of sport form. During these phases, the training of athletic abilities
becomes increasingly sport-specific. It has been observed that athletes generally reach peak
sport form during the middle or the end of the stabilization phase.

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Decline in Sport Form

The fourth phase usually occurs in the weeks after the end of the program. It consists of a
decline in sport form and performance capability because of a reduction in both the amount and
intensity of training. This phenomenon is normal and necessary if athletes are to recover
physically and mentally.
Years of Training
The figure below shows how athletic abilities and sport form improve over a period of years.

Improvement of
athletic abilities
and sport form
(% of initial
values)

Years of Training
Improvement in athletic abilities and sport form over several years of training is neither linear
nor predictable. Moreover, improvement can vary from one person to another. Some people
might have a marked response to a training stimulus, but others may improve less despite
sustained commitment and work. Athletic abilities usually improve fairly quickly at the beginning
of a training program (first weeks and months), especially if the initial level is low. When this is
the case, it is possible to achieve noticeable gains using a variety of methods.
Subsequently, the improvement rate levels out. Considerable training then becomes necessary
to make small improvements in the performance level. As sport form and athletic abilities
increase, the training activities must likewise become increasingly specific to the requirements
of the sport if gains are to be made.
After a number of years of training, it can become very difficult to improve athletic abilities. The
main objective then becomes maintaining performance capability. For most sports, developing
an athlete who is capable of performing on the international scene is a step-by-step process that
requires 8 to 10 years of training, and sometimes more. The initial stages, during which the
athletes develop their motor skills and acquire the fundamental elements of their sport in terms
of technique and physical condition, are essential. Unless athletes pass through these formative
stages, the chances of long-term success are considerably reduced.

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OVERVIEW OF THE ATHLETE’S LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT

Overview of the Athlete’s Long-Term Development*
Key Program Community Sport Competition – Introduction Competition – Competition – High
Elements Development Performance
Age Group Chronological Age Chronological/Developmental Age** Chronological/Developmental Chronological Age
Males: 6-9 years Age Males: 19 years +/-
Males: 9-12 years Males: 12-16 years
Males: 16-23 years +/-
Females: 6-8 years Females: 8-11 years Females 11-15 years Females: 18 years +/-
Females: 15-21 years +/-
General Orientation FUNdamentals Learning to train Training to train Training to compete Training to win
Objectives  Overall movement  Overall sport skills  Sport-specific skills  Sport, event, position-  Ages are sport specific,
skills development development specific physical conditioning based on international
 Fun and participation  Integrated mental,  Integrated mental,  Sport, event, position- normative data
 General, overall cognitive, and emotional cognitive, and emotional specific technical/tactical  Maintenance or
development development development preparation improvement of physical
 Integrated mental, cognitive,  Major skill learning  Major fitness development Integrated mental, cognitive, capacities
and emotional development stage: all basic sport skills stage: aerobic and strength; and emotional development  Further development of
 Screening for talent should be learned before the onset of Peak Height  Optimize ancillary capacities technical/ tactical, and playing
entering Training to train Velocity (PHV) is the reference  Specialization skills
 Daily physical activity
 Introduce ancillary point.  Modelling all possible
capacities  Develop ancillary aspects of training and
 Talent capacities performance
identification  Frequent musculoskeletal  Frequent preventive
evaluations during PHV breaks
 Use talent identification to  Maximize ancillary
help athletes focus on 2 sports capacities
 High performance
No periodization, but well- Single or double Single or double periodization Single, double, or triple Single, double, triple, or
Type of Periodization
structured programs periodization periodization multiple periodization; frequent
recovery breaks
Length of Program A few weeks (6-12) 20-30 weeks 35-45 weeks 45-50 weeks
Ratio of Practice Most time devoted to games and 70% of the time devoted to 60% of the time devoted to 40% of the time devoted to 25% of the time devoted to
(Training) to Competition activities to develop motor skills; sports participation should sports participation should be sports participation should be sports participation should be
competition and results are not a be spent training, 30% to spent training, 40% to spent training, 60% to spent training, 75% to
priority competition and competition and competition- competition and competition- competition and competition-
competition-specific training specific training (these specific training (these specific training (these
(these percentages may percentages may vary slightly, percentages may vary slightly, percentages may vary slightly,
vary slightly, depending on depending on the sport) depending on the sport) depending on the sport)
the sport)
Number of Practices per Participation in preferred sport 1 Sport-specific training 3 Sport-specific training 6-9 Sport-specific technical, tactical Sport-specific technical,
Week or 2 times per week and in many times per week plus times per week, including and fitness training 9 to 12 times tactical, and fitness training 9
other sports 3-4 times per week participation in other sports complementary sports per week to 15 times per week
3-4 times a week

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Overview of the Athlete’s Long-Term Development*

Key Program Community Sport Competition – Introduction Competition – Competition – High
Elements Development Performance
Specialization None, encourage participation in None, encourage Select 2 sports Select 1 sport Event and position specific
a wide range of sports participation in a wide range
of sports
Training Priorities –  First window of accelerated  Further develop  This is a window of Tailor fitness and recovery Fully established
Physical Preparation adaptation to speed flexibility through accelerated adaptation to programs to the individual Maximization of performance
 Develop speed, power, and exercises aerobic, speed, and athlete
endurance using games  Further develop strength training
 Introduce basic flexibility endurance through  Emphasize flexibility
training games and relays training, given the rapid
 Develop linear, lateral, and  Further develop speed growth of bones, tendons,
multi-directional speed, with by using specific ligaments, and muscles
repetitions lasting less than 5 activities that focus on
seconds agility, quickness, and
change of direction
during the warm-up
Training Priorities – Develop fundamental movement  This is a window of Further develop and Perform basic and sport-specific Fully established
Motor Development skills and the ABCs of athleticism accelerated adaptation consolidate sport-specific skills under a variety of Maximization of performance
(agility, balance, coordination, to motor coordination skills competitive conditions during
and speed)  Teach fundamental training
movement skills and
general, overall sport
skills
Training Priorities -– Teach appropriate and correct Introduce hopping and Sport-specific technical Tailor technical development to Fully established
Technical Development running, wheeling, jumping and bounding exercises or training the individual athlete Maximization of performance
throwing using the ABCs of training on hills/gradients to
athletics aid in strength development
Training Priorities -– Introduce simple rules of ethics Basic tactical preparation, Basic tactical preparation, Development of national-level Development of international-
Tactical Development of sport correct decision-making in correct decision-making in tactical skills and decision- level tactical skills and
common competitive common competitive making abilities decision-making abilities
situations situations
Training Priorities – Introduction to mental Learn to cope with mental Advanced mental preparation Advanced mental preparation,
Mental skills training challenges of competition (individualized) highly individualized approach
Training Methods Medicine ball, Swiss ball, own- Medicine ball, Swiss ball, Introduce free weights Frequent use of sport-specific Frequent use of sport-specific
body-strength exercises own-body-strength and competition-specific and competition-specific
exercises exercises exercises
*Much of this table is drawn from and summarizes “The Situation and the Solutions,” by Istvan Balyi, which appeared in Coaches Report, Summer 2001, Vol. 8 No. 1.
** The need to develop sport programs and activities that take into consideration the athlete's developmental age is widely recognized. Unfortunately, few tools are available to assist coaches in
determining developmental age accurately and most such tools need considerable refinement to be of use to Competition – Introduction coaches. The Coaching Association of Canada is acutely aware of
this shortcoming and is working actively to find solutions. In the meantime, coaches will need to rely mainly on chronological age and/or on their own judgment when making decisions regarding an
athlete's developmental status.

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EARLY SPECIALIZATION SPORTS

Early specialization sport refers to a sport in which, to be successful, athletes must begin
serious and systematic training at a relatively young age — several years earlier than would be
necessary in most other sports. Only a handful of sports require early specialization:

 Artistic gymnastics

 Rhythmic gymnastics

 Figure skating

 Diving

 Female tennis

 Sprint swimming
Each of the sports listed above should establish its own athlete development model. A generic
model might contain too many over-simplifications or omit important aspects that contribute to
sport-specific athletic development. For these sports, the challenge is to combine the
FUNdamentals and Training to Train stages, presented in the section “Overview of the Athlete’s
Long-term Development,” or to merge them into a single Training to Train stage.
With the exception of the above sports, specialization before age 10 is NOT recommended,
since it contributes to early burnout, dropout, and premature retirement from training and
competition.

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DEFINITIONS OF ATHLETIC ABILITIES

Category Athletic Abilities Required in Most Sports
Physical abilities Speed: The highest rate at which a movement or a series of movements can be
are determined by executed, or the ability to cover a given distance in the shortest possible time
the rate at which during an all-out effort of very short duration (8 seconds or less).
energy and force Speed-Endurance: The ability to sustain efforts at near-maximum speed for as
can be produced long as possible (normally, very intense efforts lasting between 8 and 60
by the muscles, seconds).
and by the range
through which the Aerobic Stamina: The ability to sustain a dynamic effort over an extended period
movements can of time (normally, efforts lasting several minutes or even hours). Note: Intense
be executed efforts lasting between 2 and 10 minutes require a subset of this athletic ability
referred to as maximum aerobic power. (Aerobic stamina is a broad term that is
sufficient for most sports. In endurance sports, however, the more specific terms
aerobic power and aerobic endurance are used.)
Maximum Strength: The highest level of tension generated by a muscle or
muscle group during a maximum contraction, regardless of the duration of the
contraction.
Speed-Strength: The ability to perform a muscle contraction or overcome a
resistance as fast as possible (normally, very brief efforts of 1-2 seconds).
Strength-Endurance: The ability to perform repeated muscle contractions at
intensities below maximum strength (normally, 15-30 repetitions or more).
Flexibility: The ability to perform movements of large amplitude about a joint
without sustaining injury.
Motor abilities Agility: The ability to execute movements or to move rapidly, with precision, and
support the with ease.
controlled Balance: The ability to achieve and maintain stability. There are three types of
execution of balance: (1) static balance: adopting a controlled body position in a stable
movements environment; (2) dynamic balance: maintaining control during movement or
stabilizing the body by performing muscular contractions to offset the effect of an
external force; and (3) the ability to keep an object or another body under
control in either a static or dynamic manner.
Coordination: The ability to perform movements in the correct order, and with the
right timing.
Tactical abilities The ability to analyze a situation and produce a correct response, i.e. one that
support effective gives a competitive advantage or increases the probability of a good performance
decisions (read and react). It is also the ability to read cues from your opponents and your
environment and to select the best response option (associative solutions), to
develop an inventory of responses in order to face the same situation and to be
able to vary the response when facing a similar but slightly different situation.
Mental skills Attentional Control: The ability to pay attention to what is important in a given
enable the athlete situation and avoid negative influences or distractions.
to be in the proper Emotional Control: The ability to consciously maintain a high level of control over
state of mind to one’s feelings when in stressful conditions.
perform
successfully Goal Setting: The ability to identify clear goals and priorities that will guide future
actions and decisions.

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IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL AND MOTOR ABILITIES BY SPORT FAMILY

This information is presented as general guidelines only; the importance of a given athletic ability may vary according to the
discipline, player position, level of competition, selected tactics, etc.

Physical Abilities Motor Abilities

Sport Family Speed Speed- Aerobic Maximum Speed- Strength- Flexibility Coordination Balance
Endurance Stamina Strength Strength Endurance
Team Sports
Soccer
*Ice Hockey High Moderate High to
High Moderate High Moderate Moderate Very high
Basketball *Moderate *High very high
Lacrosse
*Volleyball
Cyclical Sports –
Long Duration
*Speed Skating > 5 km Moderate Moderate
Road Cycling Moderate High Very high Moderate Moderate High Moderate
*High *High
Running > 5 km
*Cross-Country Skiing
Distance Swimming
Cyclical Sports –
Medium Duration
*Speed Skating
1.5-5 km
Moderate High to very Moderate High to Moderate Moderate
*Speed Skating High Moderate Moderate
short track *High high to high very high *High *High
Track Cycling 3-5 km
Swimming 400-800 m
Rowing
Running 800-3000 m

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Physical Abilities Motor Abilities

Sport Family Speed Speed- Aerobic Maximum Speed- Strength- Flexibility Coordination Balance
Endurance Stamina Strength Strength Endurance
Cyclical Sports –
Short Duration
*Speed Skating < 1.0 km
High to High to Moderate High
*Speed Skating, Very high Very high Moderate High Very high
short track very high very high to high *Very high
Track Cycling < 2 km
Swimming < 100 m
Running < 400 m
Combat Sports
High
Judo
(relative to
Karate High Moderate Moderate Very high Very high Very high Very high Very high
body
Boxing weight)
Wrestling
Artistic Sports
Figure Skating High
Moderate Moderate Moderate (relative to High to High
*Gymnastics Very high Very high Very high
*High #Low #Low body very high #Low
Synchronized
weight)
Swimming
#Diving
Single-Action Sports
High Low to Very high Moderate
Throws
moderate (# relative
#Jumps *Very Low Very high *High Very high Very high Very high
to body
#Weightlifting high *High weight) (pitcher)
*Baseball/Softball

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Physical Abilities Motor Abilities

Sport Family Speed Speed- Aerobic Maximum Speed- Strength- Flexibility Coordination Balance
Endurance Stamina Strength Strength Endurance
Precision Sports
*Curling
Low Low to
Shooting Low Moderate Moderate Moderate
*Moderate Low moderate High High
#Archery *Moderate #High #High **High
**High **High
Bowling
**Golf
Racquet Sports
Tennis
Squash Moderate Low to
High Moderate Very high High Very high Very high Very high
Racquetball to high moderate
Badminton
Table Tennis
Alpine Skiing Moderate High Moderate High Very high Very high High Very high Very high
to high
Bobsleigh Very high Moderate Low Very high Very high Moderate High Very high Very high
Fencing Very high High Moderate Moderate Very high High Very high Very high Very high
Luge Very high Moderate Low High Very high High Moderate High Very high
Parachuting Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate High Very high Very high Moderate
Water Skiing Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate High High High Very high Very high
to high
Yachting Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate High High High High
Note: In this table, *, **, and # indicate that one or more abilities for the sport in question do not have the same importance they have in the sport
family. For example, in the Team Sports sport family, speed-endurance is of moderate importance for ice hockey but of high importance for the
sport family.

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ATHLETIC ABILITIES: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATIONS

The table on the following page presents information on when to emphasize and when to avoid
training certain athletic abilities.
These guidelines represent the opinion of experts in the fields of growth and development and
training; as such, they apply to most sports. However, for sports in which athletes specialize at a
very young age, such as gymnastics, some of these guidelines may seem to differ from the
training approaches commonly used. If this is the case, (1) exercise judgement both when
interpreting guidelines and when implementing sport-specific training methods, and (2) consult
with recognized experts where necessary to ensure that the training activities are appropriate,
safe, and adapted to athletes’ physical maturity.
At the same chronological age (e.g. 12 years of age), there can be significant differences in
physical maturity. It would not be unusual for some athletes to be ahead of or behind the
general training guidelines for their age by 2 or more years.

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Guidelines for the Training of Athletic Abilities by Athletes’ Age

Developmental Age in Years

Athletic Abilities
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Aerobic Power (intense, F L L L L L J J J J
short efforts of 2-10 min)
M L L L L L L J J J
Aerobic Endurance F L L L L J J J J
(long efforts)
M L L L L L J J J J
Speed-Endurance F L L L L L J J J
M L L L L L L J J J
Strength-Endurance F L L L J J J J J J
M L L L J J J J J J J
Maximum Strength F L L L L L L L J J J
M L L L L L L L L L J J J J
Speed-Strength F L L L L L L L L J J J
(muscular power)
M L L L L L L L L J J J
Flexibility F J J J J J
M J J J J J
Speed (efforts of 8 F J J J J J J J
seconds or less)
M J J J J J J J
Speed (fast cadence of F J J J
movement, short efforts)
M J J J
Agility/Balance/ F J J J J J
Coordination
M J J J J J
Basic Techniques F J J J J J
M J J J J J
More Advanced M F FM J J J J
Techniques F
Tactics and Decision- F L L L J
making
M L L L J
Legend: L Should be avoided J Optimal training age Not a priority
In moderation As needed by the sport

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F Female M Male

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

SAMPLE SPORT PROGRAMS FOR DIFFERENT SPORT FAMILIES

Pages 18 to 24 provide examples of sport programs for different sport families for athletes in the
Competition — Introduction context. Specific examples are provided for the following:

 Team sports

 Endurance sports

 Speed-power sports

 Artistic sports

 Combat/duel sports

 Racquet sports

 Precision sports
Note: These examples were produced using the ProPulses PLAN software developed jointly by
CardiSport (www.cardisport.com) and the Coaching Association of Canada (www.coach.ca).

How to Read the Sample Programs

 In each figure, the most important athletic abilities for the sport family are listed vertically.

 The abilities listed in most sample programs were defined earlier in this document (page
9).

 In some cases, terms specific to a sport family have been added, but they are fairly
simple and should be easily understood by coaches of these types of sports.

 Where appropriate, self-explanatory abbreviations have been used.

 For each week of a program, the importance of training a specific athletic ability is
indicated by the thickness of a band:

• Thin band = not very important

• Medium-thickness band = moderately important
• Thick band = very important
 The intention and training objective for a specific athletic ability is indicated by black,
grey, and light grey colour coding.

 For technical and tactical elements, the following colour coding is used:
• Black = Introduction and Acquisition

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• Grey = Consolidation
• Light grey = Refinement
 For physical condition elements (aerobic stamina [aerobic power and aerobic
endurance], speed, speed-endurance, strength, strength-endurance, speed-strength,
flexibility) and motor abilities (agility, balance, coordination), the following colour coding
is used:
• Black = Development
• Grey = Maintenance
 Examples
• A thick black band for Basic Skills means that activities that contribute to
acquiring basic technical elements should be included and that a large proportion
of the available time should be devoted to this type of training.
• A thin, light-grey band for Var. Basic Skills means that activities that contribute to
refining variations of basic technical elements should be included, but that only a
small proportion of the available time should be devoted to this type of training.
• A thick black band for Aerobic Endur. means that activities that contribute to
developing aerobic stamina should be included, and that a large proportion of the
available time should be devoted to this type of training.

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Sample Sport Program, Competition – Introduction, Team Sports

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Sample Sport Program, Competition – Introduction, Endurance Sports

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Sample Sport Program, Competition – Introduction, Speed-Power Sports

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Sample Sport Program, Competition – Introduction, Artistic Sports

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Sample Sport Program, Competition – Introduction, Combat/Duel Sports

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Sample Sport Program, Competition – Introduction, Racquet Sports

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Sample Sport Program, Competition – Introduction, Precision Sports

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

TYPES OF EXERCISES AND THEIR USE IN DIFFERENT PHASES OF A SPORT PROGRAM

Type of Exercise Characteristics Examples Mostly used …
General Exercises No sport-specific elements; no elements  Strength-training exercises for different Beginning of the
encountered when performing movements parts of the body Preparation Period
in competition  Running in the woods
Set of exercises borrowed from various
 Rolling, bounding, etc.
forms of physical activity or other sports
Specific Exercises Some sport-specific elements, or certain
parts of movements performed in
competition
For cyclical sports… Movements that recruit the same muscle  For a cyclist, strength-training exercises End of the
groups used in the activity on a bicycle (e.g. using a big gear on a Preparation Period
hill) and first half of
 For a cross-country skier, roller skiing Competition Period
For team, technical- Sport-specific technical movement  A smash in volleyball where the coach End of the
artistic, combat, and executed in a way that is consistent with feeds the ball Preparation Period
racquet sports: simple the sport's rules; but only one  Execution of a throwing technique with a and beginning of the
specific exercises predetermined motor response is passive partner in judo Competition Period
performed
For team, technical- Execution of a variety of sport-specific  Execution of parts of a figure skating End of the
artistic, combat, and movements in the right order, and at close routine containing certain elements at the Preparation Period
racquet sports: complex to competition speed level of difficulty to be used in competition and beginning of the
specific exercises or serial Competition Period
skills
Competition Exercises Execution of sport-specific movements or  Training at target speeds based on Second half of the
tasks in the same conditions encountered competition intensity Competition Period
in competition, taking into account  Execution of whole routines at the level of
particular aspects such as rules, the difficulty of competition The weeks leading
presence of opponents and equipment to important
 Simulation of competition situations
competitions
 Games, directed games, exhibition games

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

ACTIVITY PLANNING GUIDELINES FOR VARIOUS STAGES OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Training Objectives
Recommended
Practice Initiation Acquisition Consolidation Refinement
Conditions
First contact Movement patterning Correct execution in variable Minor improvements
conditions
Surrounding Stable and predictable, Stable and predictable, free Increased variability and Competition conditions
environment free of distractions of distractions distractions in the environment,
but not to the point where
movement patterns deteriorate
Decision-making No decision-making or Simple decision-making, More complex decisions to Complex decisions, as many
options to choose from maximum of 2 options make, increased frequency of options and at the same
decision-making, and more frequency as in a competition
options (3-4)
Speed of execution Slow and controlled At athlete’s own pace Increased, variable, and close Similar to conditions in
to competitive demands competition
Number of As needed, depending High High As many as possible
repetitions on athlete’s general
motor development
Risk factor Completely safe Low-risk conditions Less than or similar to what is Similar to a high level of
conditions, errors of no encountered in regular competition
consequence competition
During training, the Basic stances and Global execution and general Maintaining the form of Creating conditions that
emphasis should positions; getting the form of the movement movements and some stress the specific elements
be on… idea of what the performance consistency under that need adjustments
movements are about, a variety of conditions and
look like under stress

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Summary Table: Training Methods

Number of Training Time

Weeks (Minutes)
Athletic Training Training
Required for
Ability Objective Frequency
Significant Minimum: Up to:
Improvement
Technique Initiation 1-2; variable 3 or + 30 60
Acquisition 4-6 3 or + 30 60-90
Consolidation 3-4 2 or + 20 60-90
Refinement Variable; 2-3 or + ??;
probably
most likely 60-90
several months
at least
or more
20-30
Tactics Acquisition 4-6 2 20 45
Consolidation Variable; 3-4 2 20 45-60
Decision-making ??; probably 2 ?? ??
several
Aerobic Development 6 2-3 20-30 60-75
Endurance
Maintenance Not applicable 1 20-25 60-75
Aerobic Power Development 6 2-3 20 55-60
Maintenance Not applicable 1 12-15 55-60
Speed Development 4 2-3 15 45-50
Maintenance Not applicable 1 10 45-50
Speed- Development 4 2-3 18-20 45-50
Endurance
Maintenance Not applicable 1 45-50
Maximum Development Seeking systematic development of this athletic ability in young
Strength athletes is NOT recommended
Maintenance
Strength- Development 4-5 2 10 30-35
Endurance
Maintenance Not applicable 1 10 30-35
Speed- Development 4-5 2 5 12
Strength
Maintenance Not applicable 1 5 12
Flexibility Development 3-5 2-3 or + 12-15 50-55
Maintenance Not applicable 1 5-8 50-55
Motor Abilities Development ??; probably 2-3 or + ??; probably ??; probably
(agility, several at least 10- 20-45
balance, 15
coordination)
Maintenance Not applicable ??; probably at ??; probably ??; probably
least one at least 10- 20-45
15

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Notes

 Training time has been adapted for Competition – Development athletes and includes
the time of both physical effort/motor engagement and recuperation. The column
Minimum represents the lowest threshold likely to have a training effect on the athletic
ability in a sport context. For more information on this topic, see the examples in the
section “Training Specific Athletic Abilities.”

 Some of these guidelines may not be appropriate for all sports or may be difficult to
implement without modification in sports that take place in an environment that (1) is
unpredictable and unstable or (2) requires efforts that are not easily controllable and
quantifiable. For example, the guidelines relating to speed or endurance are relatively
easy to apply to cyclical sports like running, cycling, cross-country skiing, speed skating,
or swimming but are harder to apply to team sports, racquet sports, artistic sports, or
combat/duel sports. However, for these sports, the guidelines may still help coaches
implement sport-specific activities, particularly as far as work/rest ratios, number of
repetitions, and required level of intensity are concerned.

 Most scientific studies on training methods are based on research conducted on adult
athletes, so their findings have been modified to take into account that your athletes are,
for the most part, children or adolescents. Do not hesitate to adjust the number of sets or
repetitions if workouts seem too easy or too hard.

 For sports in which the importance of the athletic ability is High, use the highest weekly
frequency proposed, and establish a progression that will enable the athlete to complete
the maximum amount of work suggested for each session. It may take several weeks of
training to achieve this.

 For sports in which the importance of the athletic ability is Moderate, use the lowest
weekly frequency proposed as a starting point, and establish a progression that will still
enable the athlete to complete the least amount of work suggested for each session. It
may still require several weeks of training to achieve this. If there is enough time during
practices, try to have athletes do more work.

 For sports in which the importance of the athletic ability is Low, time restrictions may
prevent you from including this type of activity in your program. If this is the case, ensure
that the athletes have the opportunity to participate in different forms of sport activity
outside your program or during the off-season so that they can still do some work in this
area to achieve a balanced athletic development.

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Background Information

Combining Athletic Abilities in Training

In some cases, lack of time may make it impossible to train athletic abilities separately. In other
cases, training inevitably involves certain technical elements, as well as one (or more) physical
abilities; for example, swimming several lengths of the pool involves doing some aerobic work
and working on stroke technique. The following table shows how some athletic abilities can be
combined for training purposes, provided the characteristics of the activity and the practice
conditions are appropriate.

This Training Priority… Can be Combined in Training With…

Technical Elements Some tactical elements and decision-making skills; aerobic
endurance; aerobic power; speed; speed-endurance;
strength-endurance; agility; balance; coordination
Tactical Elements/ Some sport-specific technical elements; speed; speed-
Decision-making endurance; speed-strength; strength-endurance; agility;
balance; coordination
Aerobic Endurance*/Aerobic Some sport-specific technical elements; agility; coordination
Power
Speed Some sport-specific technical elements; some tactical and
decision-making elements; agility; coordination
Speed-Endurance Some sport-specific technical elements; some tactical and
decision-making elements; agility; coordination
Speed-Strength* Some sport-specific technical elements; some tactical and
decision-making elements; coordination
Strength-Endurance* Some sport-specific technical elements; some tactical and
decision-making elements
Flexibility* Some phases of technical execution
Agility Some sport-specific technical elements; some tactical and
decision-making elements; speed; speed-endurance;
coordination
Balance Some sport-specific technical elements
Coordination Some sport-specific technical elements; some tactical and
decision-making elements; speed; speed-endurance; agility
*Denotes athletic abilities that lend themselves well to individual training outside the practice
sessions directly under your control. Ensure that the athletes actually do train as required and
that they use appropriate methods (duration of effort, intensity, work-rest ratios).

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

SECTION 2
DETAILED INFORMATION ON SPORT PROGRAMS

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

Major Questions to Consider When Putting Together a Sport Program

Who
Who are
are the
the athletes?
athletes?
Age
Age
Sex
Sex
General
General athletic
athletic background
background and and
experience in sport
experience in sport
Performance
Performance andand skill
skill level
level
What
What athletic
athletic qualities
qualities need
need
What
What training
training methods
methods Number
Number
to
to be
be developed
developed inin my
my sport?
sport?
should
should be used during the
be used during the Athletes
Athletes know
know each
each other
other or or don’t
don’t
different
different periods
periods in
in the
the Physical
Physical
program?
program? Motor
Motor
Type Technical
Technical
Type of
of activities
activities and
and drills
drills
Training methods and Tactical/decision-making
Tactical/decision-making
Training methods and
protocols
protocols (amount
(amount of of work
work Mental
Mental
and
and intensity)
intensity)
Practice
Practice conditions
conditions
Type of practice
Type of practice
Progressions
Progressions
My Sport
Program
What
What are
are the
the events,
events, dates,
dates,
and locations I must consider
and locations I must consider
Training
Training priorities
priorities during
during in
in my
my program?
program?
the
the different
different periods
periods of
of Registration
Registration
my program
my program Reservations
Reservations (facilities,
(facilities,
transportation,
transportation, accommodation)
accommodation)
Training
Training andand performance
performance
objectives
objectives Purchase of equipment
Purchase of equipment
Time
Time available
available to to achieve
achieve Beginning
Beginning andand end
end ofof the
the
these
these objectives
objectives program,
program, breaks
breaks
Athletic
Athletic abilities
abilities to
to What
What should
should my
my program
program seek
seek Practice
Practice sessions
sessions (schedule,
(schedule,
emphasize
emphasize at at the
the beginning, to achieve as far as long- place,
place, frequency)
frequency)
beginning, to achieve as far as long-
in
in the
the middle,
middle, andand at
at the
the end
end term Selection
Selection ofof athletes
term development
development ofof the
the athletes
of
of the
the program
program Preparatory
athletes is concerned?
athletes is concerned? Preparatory competitions,
competitions,
Time
Time needed
needed to to achieve
achieve regular
regular competition,
competition, major
major
specific
specific training effects
training effects Aspects
Aspects toto prioritize
prioritize in
in the
the competitions,
competitions, play-offs,
play-offs,
Time program
program in in order
order toto promote
promote the the tournaments,
tournaments, championships,
championships,
Time that
that can
can be be devoted
devoted toto
other long-term
long-term development
development of of the
the (schedule,
(schedule, location)
location)
other types
types of
of activities
activities
athletes
athletes Information
Problems
Problems or or limitations
limitations which
which Information sessions
sessions
may Particular
Particular needs
needs of of the
the athletes
athletes
may influence what
influence what can
can bebe Fund-raising
Fund-raising
done at this stage of their
at this stage of their
done Social
Social events
events
development,
development, considering
considering their their
age
age and
and sport
sport background
background

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

STRUCTURE OF A SPORT PROGRAM

Periods and Phases of a Sport Program

Knowing the general pattern according to which sport form evolves in the short term (see pages
3 to 5) allows us to divide a sport program or season into periods. Periods promote the
progressive development of athletic abilities and prepare athletes for the major competitions
they will participate in.
The periods of a sport program are Preparation, Competition, and Transition.

Period Beginning End

Preparation First practice of the program First “official” competition of the
program
Competition First “official” competition of the Last competition of the program
program
Transition Last competition of the program Last structured training activity of the
program
To describe more precisely the major characteristics of a program, each period is usually
subdivided into smaller units called phases.
The Preparation Period is usually divided into three phases:
1. General Preparation Phase (GPP)
2. Specific Preparation Phase (SPP)
3. Pre-Competition Phase (PCP)
The Competition Period is usually divided into two phases:
1. Regular Competition Phase (RCP)
2. Major Competition Phase (MCP)
Whether the phases of the Competition Period are completely distinct or the regular and
important competitions overlap varies from sport to sport.
The Transition Period is usually not divided into smaller units. The Transition Period generally
occurs after the last competition of the season. It is a time for physical, mental, emotional, and
social recuperation. It follows a period of high intensity in training and competition. This
recuperation can be achieved by complete rest or active rest, where athletes drastically reduce
their training volume and intensity, as well as participate in other physical or sporting activities
just for fun.
Note: The main characteristics of each period and phase of a sport program and the priorities
and objectives of each are covered later in this document.

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

Types of Sport Programs

There are three main types of sport programs. They can be defined by the number of
Competition Periods that occur every year:

 Sport programs based on single periodization

 Sport programs based on double periodization

 Sport programs based on multiple periodization

As its name indicates, a sport program based on single periodization has only one Competition
Period per year. This usually ends with one or several major events, e.g. a league that has
regular games in the fall and winter and playoffs in the spring, or regular competitions followed
by a championship at the end of the season.
Double periodization consists of two distinct Competition Periods each year, e.g. a sport that
has a summer season and a winter season.
Multiple periodization consists of more than two distinct Competition Periods, as well as several
times when the athlete must achieve high-performance goals.

For athletes in the Competition – Introduction

context, the sport program should be based
on single periodization.

The next page presents an example of a single-periodization sport program.

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

The sample single-periodization sport program shown below lasts for 30 weeks. The program starts on Monday, March 17, and ends
on Sunday, October 12. It is divided into three periods: Preparation, Competition, and Transition. The Preparation and Competition
Periods are subdivided into phases.

Note: This example was created with ProPulses PLAN software, which was developed by the Coaching Association of Canada
(www.coach.ca) and CardiSport (www.cardisport.com).
In this example:

 The Preparation Period lasts 15 weeks and is subdivided into three phases: General Preparation Phase (8 weeks), Specific
Preparation Phase (5 weeks), and Pre-Competitive Phase (2 weeks). A preparatory competition (P1) takes place during the
week of June 16-25.

 The Competition Period lasts 13 weeks and is subdivided into two phases: Regular Competition Phase (7 weeks and 5
competitions: C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5), and Important Competition Phase (6 weeks and 3 competitions: C6, C7, and C8).

 The Transition Period lasts 2 weeks.

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

LONG-TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT

The general recommendations for sport programs presented below apply when:

 Athletes are most often children or young adolescents

 Participation in sport is seasonal

 There is a wide range in athletes’ experience in sport and in their levels of performance

General Recommendations
 Encourage athletes to try various sports activities.

 Emphasize basic athletic development and ensure that athletes are as active as possible
during practices. Primary training objectives include the development of basic motor
abilities (agility, balance, coordination), speed, and physical conditioning, as well as the
acquisition and development of basic technical and tactical skills. In some instances, it is
possible to work on acquiring more complex techniques.

 Athletes can do some strength training (avoiding heavy weights); they can also train the
athletic abilities that require significant energy production from the muscles (without,
however, putting too much emphasis on the development of speed-endurance).

 Do not subject athletes to a mechanical approach to learning their sport, involving high
numbers of repetitions in an artificial context.

 As athletes are now able to concentrate better, it is possible to focus on more specific
and more complex tasks in practices. Instructions can also be more complex.

 Development of tactical and decision-making skills can begin.

 In sports involving late specialization, athletes may begin to specialize in a particular

discipline or position at around 13-14 years.

 Participation in competition becomes more serious, but there should not be too much
pressure on athletes; competitive experience must be fun, and the level of competition
must be adapted to athletes’ capabilities.

 Athletes must spend more time on general training and the development of basic athletic
abilities than on specialized training and preparation for competition.

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

Position of the Coaching Association of Canada with regard to

Sport Programs

Sport programs for young athletes must be seen as one

part of their long-term development.

Consequently, programs must be designed to provide a

logical and adapted progression that will promote the
development of a variety of athletic abilities and basic sport
skills rather than emphasizing the achievement of short-
term performance goals.

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

CHALLENGES
Coaches may experience a number of challenges when designing or managing seasonal sport
programs.

Logistical Constraints
Helping athletes progress in sport and develop fully as people is an essential part of any sport
program. This progression will be largely influenced by the length of the program and by the
training and competition opportunities available; however, other factors such as financial
resources or access to facilities may have a significant impact on the type of program that can
be developed.

Developmental Needs and Athletes’ Interests

Programs must reflect the needs and interests of athletes. Generally speaking, in a sport
program, athletes:

 Are at a particular point in the long-term development process for their sport. The time
they spend in a program must help them progress toward subsequent stages, taking into
account their current level of performance.

 Do not all have the same experience, the same background in sports, or the same
performance capability; consequently, coaches may often have to work with people with
specific needs. In addition to activities intended for most of the group, coaches will
undoubtedly have to adapt some activities to particular members of the group.

 Can be at very different stages of physical or cognitive development or display highly

variable levels of maturity, even if they are the same chronological age. Once again,
needs can vary considerably from one athlete to another.

 Do not all have the same objectives or motivation with regard to their involvement.
Coaches must take this fact into account and propose activities that will keep everyone
interested.

Athletic Development
As far as athletic development is concerned, the main challenges when designing a sport
program are to do the following:

 Establish training priorities by identifying the athletic and technical abilities that are most
in need of training, given the sport and age of the athletes.

 Establish realistic objectives for sport-form development and competition performance,

given the sport's requirements, athletes' age and athletic experience, and the available
practice/training time.

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

 Set up training opportunities that provide an adequate and gradual preparation before
competition begins. Indeed, in several sport programs for beginning athletes in Canada,
the General Preparation Phase and the Specific Preparation Phase are often drastically
shortened (even omitted). This is a particularly glaring problem in many team sports,
where athletes start to compete very early in the program.

 Sequence training priorities over the length of the program so that there is a logical
progression and athletes reach a suitable level of sport form in time for the major
competitions.

 Make sure that the content of the practices (i.e. the activities, their length and intensity,
and the practice conditions) is related to the program's main development objectives.

 Be fully aware of the time required to develop various athletic abilities, as well as the
amount and frequency of training required to make significant improvements.

 Anticipate probable training effects of the program’s activities so as to (1) do a follow-up,

(2) evaluate whether athletes are making the desired progress, and (3) adjust program
activities as required.

The main challenge that a coach faces in designing a sport

program is reconciling what should be done to help athletes
develop with what can be done, given the constraints
involved.

COMMON ISSUES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Some common issues in sport programs are listed below, with possible solutions. If your
program does not seem to have such issues, follow the recommendations that appear in the
next sections of this document as closely as possible.

Possible Issue in
Solutions to Consider
Sport Program
The program is too short to  Encourage athletes to participate in other sports with similar
allow any significant demands and in other sports that may help them develop other
athletic development in types of skills
your sport or discipline  Enrol athletes in sport schools or camps so that they continue their
development and avoid losing too much sport fitness
The Preparation Period is  Extend the Preparation Period by starting practices earlier before
too short the first regular competitions
 Use some of the early season competitions as a continuation of the
Preparation Period where results aren’t too important
There isn’t enough  Include simulated competition in your practice sessions
competition  Organize friendly or unofficial competitions

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

Possible Issue in
Solutions to Consider
Sport Program
Practice sessions are too  Do the general warm-up before you go onto the field or into the
short facility
 Train the motor abilities (agility, balance, coordination, etc.) or some
physical abilities (flexibility, endurance, strength) outside practice
sessions so that you can spend as much of the available time as
possible on sport-specific activities
 Create workstations or circuits that enable a larger number of
athletes to be active at the same time
There isn’t enough practice  Extend the Preparation Period; i.e. begin practices earlier in the
or preparation time to program
enable significant athletic  Use some of the early-season competitions as a continuation of the
development in the sport or Preparation Period where results aren’t too important
discipline; not enough
 Increase the number of practice sessions between competitions
training opportunities
between competitions  Provide athletes with programs for activities they can do on their
own between practice sessions so that you can focus on important
sport-specific elements during practice sessions
 Don’t let performance in the most recent competition or preparation
for the next competition dictate all the content of the practice
sessions; situate the content of practices in a longer-term
perspective (several weeks, or the season)
The Competition Period is  Talk to other coaches and administrators responsible for the
too long; too many competition structure and try to reduce the length of the program
competitions in the and the number of competitions
program; too many  When possible, consider not taking part in certain competitions
“important” competitions
 Rest some athletes by withdrawing them from certain competitions
or not registering them, and give other athletes chances to get
competitive experience
 Consider some early-season competitions as part of the
Preparation Period where results aren’t too important (for example,
early-season wins get fewer points than wins after a certain date).
 Priorize competitions and focus on those that lead to the next stage
in the development process
Practice sessions are too  If possible, reduce the length and increase the frequency of
long practices
 If you can book only long periods of time in facilities, include
frequent breaks during practices and plan fun activities
Practice sessions are too  To avoid fatigue, alternate hard training days with easy days during
frequent the week
 Build in a rest day every 2-3 days of practice
 Build in an easy session or a rest day the day after a competition,
especially if the competition is particularly demanding
 Avoid planning a tough practice session the day before a
competition
Selection dates are too  Don’t conduct selection camps that result in the elimination or
early in the program exclusion of athletes
 Delay selection dates
 Create different training groups within the same club or team

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

Possible Issue in
Solutions to Consider
Sport Program
 Provide other opportunities later in the season for athletes who
weren’t selected
Selection criteria are based  Evaluate athletes on their ability to apply elements from practices to
on current ability in the competition, rather than on their performance
sport, not athletic potential  Don’t conduct trials that result in the elimination or exclusion of
athletes
 Create different training groups within the same club or team
 Provide other opportunities later in the season for athletes who
weren’t selected
There is too much  Evaluate athletes on their ability to apply elements from practices to
emphasis on winning or competition, rather than on their performance
short-term performance  Redefine the program's objectives if there seems to be too much
emphasis on competition results
Athletes begin to specialize  Don’t start to specialize if athletes haven’t mastered the basic skills
too soon essential to the sport
Motor abilities are not  Introduce activities to train the motor abilities (agility, balance,
sufficiently developed coordination, etc.) that athletes can practise in their free time
 Maximize active engagement during practices and create activities
that call on the motor abilities

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Detailed Information on Sport Programs

TRAINING OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

Types of Objectives in a Sport Program

The table below lists certain types of objectives that a coach can try to achieve in a sport
program. Several objectives can be associated with the same activity. For example, athletes can
try to improve while having fun, or experiment while trying to do their best or to win.
Objective Comments
General
Participate Take part in the event; the performance and result are not important
Gain experience Experiment with new things; the performance and result are not
important
Have fun Above all, make the experience enjoyable and pleasurable
Athletic, Physical, and Motor Abilities
Develop/Improve Try to raise the level of the athletic ability
Maintain When a given athletic ability is considered to be sufficiently
developed, maintain it at that level and prevent it from declining
Technical Elements Specific to the Sport
Acquire new skills Learn how to correctly perform new movements and skills
Perform the skill correctly Execute movements well and with correct form
Consolidate the skill While still maintaining good form in the movement, try to reach a
high level of efficiency or precision under variable conditions, which
are more difficult and unpredictable
Increase the success rate of Try to reach a high level of efficiency or precision while still
skills execution maintaining good form in the movement; here, the outcome of the
action becomes important
Tactical Elements Specific to the Sport
Read a situation and react In a given situation, observe the right cues, analyze them, make a
appropriately decision, and carry out the appropriate motor response
Vary motor responses Try to increase the number of motor responses in a given situation
according to the situation
Performance
Do one's best Try to do as well as possible, whatever the outcome or result
Personal best Try to do something better than before
Win Try to win, to finish in first position
Finish among the first N Try to attain a particular ranking with respect to other athletes in the
positions competition

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Objectives of Periods and Phases of Seasonal Sport Programs

Period Phase Objectives And Priorities Training Methods
 General development of physical, motor, and mental athletic abilities  Large proportion of general
 Acquisition of new technical abilities and skills activities and exercises; small
General Preparation proportion of specific and
 Consolidation of already acquired technical and tactical abilities
Phase competition activities and
 Progressive increase in the quantity of work done during practices exercises
Recommended  Improvement of athletes’ weak points  Training and practice conditions
length: 6 to 8 weeks, fairly stable and predictable, or
 Development of interpersonal bonds within the group
or more controlled by the coach
 Establishment of general objectives related to athletic development
 Average intensity lower than that
of later phases
 Progressive development of physical conditioning adapted to the sport  Greater proportion of specific or
 Specific development of the primary physical, motor, and mental athletic abilities competition exercises, decrease
required in the sport in the proportion of general
Specific Preparation
activities and exercises
Phase  Improvement of athletes’ weak points
 More specific and less predictable
Recommended  Consolidation of already acquired technical and tactical abilities
training and practice conditions;
length: 3 to 5 weeks,  Acquisition of new tactical abilities and knowledge conditions controlled by the coach
Prepar- or more  Progressive increase in the quantity of work done during practices more frequent than random
ation conditions
 Progressive increase in activity intensity, approaching competition-level intensity
toward the end of this phase
 Preparation of athletes for future competitions  Large proportion of specific or
 Maintenance of physical, motor, and mental athletic abilities of low or moderate competition exercises, and small
importance in the sport proportion of general activities
and exercises
 Specific development of the primary physical, motor, and mental athletic abilities
required in the sport  Specific training and practice
Pre-Competition conditions
Phase  Consolidation of already acquired technical and tactical abilities
 Conditions controlled by the
Recommended  Increase in activity intensity, to be at competition-level intensity toward the end of coach more frequent than random
length: 2 to 3 weeks, the phase conditions
or more  Stabilization of the quantity of work done during practices  Participation in a few preparatory
 Identification of more specific performance objectives and “non-official” competitions
 Stress management and emotional control when outcome is important
 Cooperation within the group
 First selection activities (if applicable)

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Period Phase Objectives And Priorities Training Methods

 Validation and confirmation of learning and progress made by athletes during  Very large proportion of specific or
training competition exercises, and very
 Achievement of performance goals small proportion of general
activities and exercises, unless
 Maintenance of the primary physical, motor, and mental athletic abilities required the latter are required to correct
in the sport persistent shortcomings
 Consolidation of already acquired technical and tactical abilities; maintenance of  Specific training and practice
recently acquired ones conditions similar to those of
 Stabilization of or decrease in the quantity of work done during practices and competition; conditions controlled
Regular Competition maintenance of an intensity similar to that found in competition by the coach less frequent than
Phase  Stress management and emotional control when outcome is important random conditions
 Acquisition/implementation of game/combat/race plan  Practice simulation of situations
Length: variable
likely to be encountered in major
 Cooperation within the group
competitions
 Other selection events (if applicable)
 Use of specific competition
situations or of less important
competitions as difficult practices
Compet-
or as tests in which athletes
ition experiment; include psychological
stress during training only when
athletes have a high success rate
in the execution of technical skills
 Implementation of game/combat/race plan with the aim of achieving a  Very large proportion of specific
performance in competition exercises
 Achievement of performance goals when the stakes or competition level are  Random conditions more frequent
higher than conditions controlled by the
 Stress management and emotional control when outcome is very important coach
Major Competition  Recovery from fatigue and stress due to participation in regular and major  Exercises and activities intended
Phase competitions to refine preparation
 Rather than trying to increase the length of practices, make sure that their  Insertion of frequent breaks in
frequency is maintained and the intensity remains high practices so as to avoid fatigue
and maintain a high degree of
 High success rate when performing actions in training (precision and intensity
consistency); high cooperation within the group
 Final selections (if applicable)

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Period Phase Objectives And Priorities Training Methods

 Recovery and regeneration  Active rest
 Healing of injuries sustained during the Competition Period  Very large proportion of general
 Decrease in the length, frequency, and intensity of sport activities activities and exercises
 Participation in activities other
Length: variable
Transition than organized competitive
(2 to 8 weeks) activities
 Participation in sports with
different physical and motor
requirements, with or without
competition, without stress

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TYPES OF EXERCISES AND THEIR USE IN DIFFERENT PHASES OF A

SPORT PROGRAM
Training exercises are usually divided into three main categories:
1. General exercises
2. Specific exercises
3. Competition exercises
Each type of exercise has its own training effects on athletic abilities. The general
characteristics of the main types of exercises are described below.

General Exercises
General exercises, or general physical preparation, have no elements specific to a sport or
competition movement. They are a series of exercises borrowed from various forms of physical
activity or other sports. General exercises serve as a general physical preparation for motor
abilities. They can also be used when the athlete needs to do active physical or mental
recovery, e.g. after a difficult competition or a series of particularly demanding practices.
Examples of general exercises are push-ups, sit-ups, skipping, hopping and bounding, rolls,
swimming for gymnasts, badminton for cyclists, and so on.

Specific Exercises
Specific exercises contain elements of the sport, as well as certain parts of movements
performed in competition. Consequently, the muscle groups used in the sport are recruited to
reproduce some of the demands of competition, for example, movements, execution speed, and
duration of effort.
Specific exercises are not necessarily carried out in conditions that are perfectly identical to
those of competition, particularly concerning the intensity, duration, and environment. For
example, a sport-specific movement can be repeated several times at a lower than competition
intensity or by taking breaks that are shorter or longer than those of competition. The
movements specific to a sport can also be performed in an artificial context; athletes might swim
in a river rather than in a pool, run in the woods rather than on a track, practise with an object
that is heavier or lighter than the one used in competition, carry out certain movements with no
opposition or against reduced opposition as compared to competition situations, etc.
By definition, specific exercises contribute directly to the development of the physical
conditioning essential to a sport.
In the case of team sports, technical effectiveness and specific physical preparation are closely
related; consequently, this type of exercise helps athletes acquire sport-specific skills. For
example, the vertical jump, which requires muscular power, is important to executing a smash in
volleyball; vertical jumps imitating the smash therefore constitute a specific exercise even when
there is no ball to hit.

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Some specific exercises relevant to team, technical-artistic, combat, and racquet sports are
briefly described below.

Simple Specific Exercises

In simple specific exercises, the athlete performs a technical movement in keeping with the
rules of the sport. However, the conditions are such that there is only one predetermined motor
response to perform.
The exercises usually focus on a particular component of the movement or a precise technical
element. Used especially during the introduction or acquisition stages of a new skill, simple
specific exercises are used to acquire the mechanics of a movement. The athlete is put in
artificial, easy, constant, and predictable conditions. He or she then learns the precise
mechanics of the movement. The exercises require executing a large number of repetitions at a
sub-maximal physical effort. Simple specific exercises can also contribute to reinforcing or
maintaining a technical movement in keeping with competition demands.

Complex Specific Exercises or Serial Skills

Complex specific exercises or serial skills are exercises in which athletes execute several
different movements in the correct order. The athletes know in advance the motor-ability task
they must accomplish. When executing the exercises, the athletes try to perform each
movement correctly. The purpose of the exercises is to ensure a smooth transition from one
movement to another; the sequence of movements must therefore be the same as in
competition. The speed of execution can be somewhat lower than that of competition, but it
should get closer to competition speed over time. These exercises contribute to the
development of variants of basic skills and foster the consolidation of technical movements.

Competition Exercises
Competition exercises (or simulated competition) are the most specific form of preparation there
is for an athlete. They consist of executing movements or tasks in the same conditions as those
that will be encountered in competition and taking into account particular aspects such as rules,
equipment used, environmental conditions (surface, lighting, temperature, time of day when the
activities are performed, etc.), and opponents’ level, etc. A cross-country skier who skis 10 km at
race speed, volleyball players who make passes that finish with a smash at the net against
defenders using unpredictable tactics, a gymnast who executes the elements of a routine in
sequence and at competition speed, and a tennis player who practises volleys at the net after
an exchange are all doing competition exercises.
Competition exercises lead to complex adaptations because they simultaneously bring into play
physical, motor, technical, mental, and decisional elements. For this reason, they are important
to the development and maintenance of sport form during the Competition Period. When the
conditions created during training replicate the demands of competition, this type of exercise
represents an effective way of preparing and stabilizing sport form for actual competitions. This
type of exercise can also be used to reinforce technical movements, foster tactical learning, or
make very specific modifications to technique. In this case, the exercises can be done at a
slightly lower than competition intensity.
Note: With young athletes, general and specific exercises should be used most of the time, not
competition exercises. This is particularly true during the first weeks of a program.

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Simulated Competition Exercises

In this type of exercise, athletes are placed in competition-like conditions and must solve a
problem. The conditions call upon the athletes' perceptual abilities (read and react). In certain
sports, simulated competition exercises bring into play the concept of cooperation and
synchronization with other partners against active opposition. In team sports, the conditions
created by the coach for this type of exercise may involve 2, 3, or 4 players who are engaged in
a partial phase of the game. The practice usually focuses on running through the team's tactical
combinations and tries to develop organization and cooperation among the players.
To solve the problems encountered in simulated competition exercises, the athletes must: (1)
quickly analyze the situation by taking in the relevant information about the intentions
(behaviour) of the partners and opponents, (2) make a decision about solutions to the problem,
and (3) carry out the appropriate motor response. This last aspect requires the correct technical
execution, conducted with precision at the right time and at the right speed, all of this in a
changing or dynamic situation.
The objective of this type of exercise is to develop the athletes' self-reliance during the
execution of various competition tasks. In the case of team sports, this type of exercise also
fosters the capacity for collective organization and emphasizes the completion of important
phases of a game. Team members therefore try to:

 Take advantage of the team’s strong points

 Limit the effectiveness of their opponents' strong points

 Take advantage of their opponents' weak points and shortcomings

Competition Exercises – Modified Game

These are competitive situations such as 2 against 2, 3 against 3, 4 against 4 on a smaller or
normal playing field. Regular rules can be used, or the coach can modify them if necessary (e.g.
make at least three passes before shooting).

Competition Exercises – Directed Game

A directed game involves the whole team, with or without opponents, going through a partial
phase of a game. The coach's input is essential if tactical learning is to occur in this type of
exercise. Two points are particularly important. First, the tactics practised must take into account
the players' current physical and technical abilities and be achievable in the immediate future.
Second, for athletes to acquire and master the tactics, the coach must provide specific feedback
regarding the aspects that require correction.
Inter-squad games during practices with specific directions being given to certain players in
some situations is an example of a directed game. In fact, the game often unfolds along well-
defined lines, and the coach can intervene at any time to make corrections or changes.

Competition Exercises – Exhibition Game

An exhibition game takes place against a real opponent. It is used to verify athletes'
performance capability in terms of technique and tactics. It is also used to evaluate athletes'
attitude in stressful situations, to determine the skill of the competitors, and to assess athletes’

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ability to apply the game plan. In team sports, the coach can take advantage of the situation to
experiment with combinations and substitution of players so as not to disrupt the team during
major competitions. Exhibition games should fully respect real competition conditions.

The Use of Exercises in Different Phases of a Sport Program

The proportion of general, specific, and competition exercises varies from phase to phase in a
sport program. A progression should occur throughout the program's phases to promote the
development of sport form.
Recommendations regarding the relative proportions of general, specific, and competition
exercises in the different phases of a sport program are provided in the section “Progression
Parameters in a Sport Program”.

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TRAINING SPECIFIC ATHLETIC ABILITIES

Developing and Maintaining Speed
Speed Speed of Movement
Type of effort Intermittent (repetitions of intense Intermittent (repetitions of intense
efforts followed by pauses, and efforts followed by pauses, and
grouped in sets) grouped in sets)
Mode/type of movement As sport-specific as possible As sport-specific as possible
Intensity All-out; as fast as possible As fast as possible
Length of a repetition 5–8s Generally less than 1 s
Number of repetitions per set 4–5 4–5
Number of sets 2–4 2–4
Total number of repetitions 8 – 20 8 – 20
Length of recovery/repetition 60 – 75 s 10 – 15 s
Type of recovery/repetition Active, very low intensity Active, very low intensity, passive
Recovery between sets Active, low intensity (5 – 6 min) Active, low intensity (2 – 3 min)
Stop before if … Athlete can no longer maintain a Form of movement deteriorates,
high speed speed of movement decreases
Min-max length of protocol 16 min 40 s; 46 min 40 s 5 min; 16 min 20 s
Significant improvement in… 4 – 6 weeks 4 – 6 weeks
Development 2 – 3 times per week 2 – 3 times per week
Maintenance 1 set, once a week 1 set, once a week
Speed-Endurance Speed-Endurance
(short efforts) (long efforts)
Type of effort Intermittent (repetitions of intense Intermittent (repetitions of intense
efforts followed by pauses, and efforts followed by pauses, and
grouped in sets) grouped in sets)
Mode/type of movement As sport-specific as possible As sport-specific as possible
Intensity All-out Controlled, but almost all-out
Length of a repetition 15 – 20 s 30 – 40 s
Number of repetitions per set 3–5 2–3
Number of sets 2 or 3 2 or 3
Total number of repetitions 6 – 15 6–9
Length of recovery/repetition 1 min 30 s – 2 min 2 – 3 min
Type of recovery/repetition Active, very low intensity Active, very low intensity
Recovery between sets Active, low intensity (6 min) Active, low intensity (6 – 8 min)
Stop before if … Athlete can no longer maintain a Athlete can no longer maintain a high
high speed speed
Min-max length of protocol 19 min 30; 47 min 18 min; 48 min
Significant improvements in… 4 – 6 weeks 4 – 6 weeks
Development 2 – 3 times per week 2 – 3 times per week
Maintenance 1 set, once a week 1 set, once a week
s : second min : minute h : hour

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Developing and Maintaining Aerobic Endurance and Aerobic Power

Aerobic Endurance Aerobic Endurance
(short efforts) (long efforts)
Type of effort Intermittent (repetitions of intense Continuous (no pauses during effort,
efforts followed by pauses, and and fairly steady pace)
grouped in sets)
Mode/type of movement Specific, or involving the major Specific, or involving the major
muscle groups involved in the sport muscle groups involved in the sport
Intensity Sub-maximal, but high Sub-maximal, moderate
Length of a repetition 3 – 5 min 20 – 45 min, or more
Number of repetitions per set 2–4 1
Number of sets 2–3 1
Total number of repetitions 4 – 12 1
Length of recovery/repetition Equal to length of effort Not applicable
Type of recovery/repetition Active, low intensity Not applicable
Recovery between sets Active, low intensity (5 – 10 min) Not applicable
Stop before if … Intensity decreases too much Athlete is tired
Min-max length of protocol 28 min; 2 h 15 min 20 – 45 min, or more
Significant improvements in… 6 – 8 weeks 6 – 8 weeks
Development 2 – 3 times per week 2 – 3 times per week
Maintenance 1 set, once a week Once a week
Aerobic Power Aerobic Power
(short efforts) (long efforts)
Type of effort Intermittent (repetitions of intense Intermittent (repetitions of intense
efforts followed by pauses, and efforts followed by pauses, and
grouped in sets) grouped in sets)
Mode/type of movement Specific, or involving the major Specific, or involving the major
muscle groups involved in the sport muscle groups involved in the sport
Intensity Below maximum speed; should Below maximum speed; should
correspond to highest speed that correspond to highest speed that can
can be sustained for about 5 be sustained for about 6-8 minutes;
minutes; maximal heart rate should maximal heart rate should be
be achieved after several achieved after a few repetitions
repetitions
Length of a repetition 1 min 2 min
Number of repetitions per set 4–6 3
Number of sets 2–3 2
Total number of repetitions 8 – 18 6
Length of recovery/repetition 1 min – 1min 30 s 1 min 30 s – 2 min
Type of recovery/repetition Active, low – moderate intensity Active, low – moderate intensity
Recovery between sets Active, low intensity (5 min) Active, low intensity (5 – 8 min)
Stop before if … Intensity decreases too much Intensity decreases too much
Min-max length of protocol 24 min; 55 min 30 s 28 min; 44 min
Significant improvements in… 6 – 8 weeks 6 – 8 weeks
Development 2 – 3 times per week 2 – 3 times per week
Maintenance 1 set, once a week 1 set, once a week
s : second min : minute h : hour

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Developing and Maintaining Strength

Strength-Endurance Maximum Strength

Type of effort Intermittent (repetitions of intense
efforts followed by pauses, and
grouped in sets); alternate muscle Training this athletic ability in young
groups involved athletes is NOT recommended

Mode/type of movement Tractions, pulling actions,

extensions, flexions, etc., using own
body weight, free weights, or
machines
Intensity Sub-maximal; use of body weight; if
free weights or machines are used,
athlete must be able to lift load at
least 10 times
Length of a repetition 3–4s
Number of repetitions per set 10 – 15, or +
Number of sets per exercise 2–3
Number of different exercises 5–8
Total number of repetitions 100 – 300 or +
Length of recovery/repetition Not applicable
Type of recovery/repetition Not applicable
Recovery between sets 30 s – 1 min
Stop before if … Quality of execution decreases;
marked fatigue occurs during
execution
Min-max length of protocol 10 min; 32 min
Significant improvements in… 4 – 5 weeks
Development 2 times per week
Maintenance 1 set per exercise, once a week
s : second min : minute h : hour

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Developing and Maintaining Speed-Strength and Flexibility

Speed-Strength Flexibility
Type of effort Intermittent (repetitions of intense Progressive extension of the body
efforts followed by pauses, and part involved, followed by a
grouped in sets); alternate muscle maintaining of the position; alternate
groups involved body side if applicable
Mode/type of movement Jumping, bounding, tractions, pulling Passive stretching; no external
actions, extensions, using own body resistance should be applied on the
weight, free weights, or machines limb or the joint
Intensity Speed of movement as fast as Stretch should be performed until a
possible; sub-maximal (use of body light feeling of discomfort is felt in
weight; if free weights or machines the muscles
are used, athlete must be able to lift
load at least 15 times)
Length of a repetition Less than 1 s during the contraction 20 – 40 s
phase of the muscle group
Number of repetitions per set 6–8 2 (1 each side)
Number of sets per exercise 2–3 2–4
Number of different exercises 2–3 6–8
Total number of repetitions 24 – 72 24 – 64
Length of recovery/repetition Not applicable Not applicable
Type of recovery/repetition Not applicable Not applicable
Recovery between sets 30 s – 1 min 15 – 30 s
Stop before if … Quality of execution decreases; Some pain is felt
marked fatigue occurs during
execution
Min-max length of protocol 5 min; 10 min 30 12 min; 54 min
Significant improvements in… 4 – 5 weeks 3 – 5 weeks
Development 2 times per week 2 – 3 times per week
Maintenance 1 set per exercise, once a week 1 set per exercise, once a week
s : second min : minute h : hour

Motor Athletic Abilities (Agility, Balance, Coordination)

Unfortunately, little information is available on the optimal training frequency and the minimal
amount of time necessary for a training response for motor abilities. Therefore, if they are
important in the sport, they should be incorporated on a regular basis into the program’s
activities, particularly during the first few weeks.
For more information on the activities that may contribute to the development of motor athletic
abilities, see the Reference Material for the Planning a Practice module.

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PROGRESSION PARAMETERS IN A SPORT PROGRAM

Progression Parameters in a Sport Program
Program Element Beginning ↔ End of
of Program Program
General exercises Large ↓ proportion Small proportion Small proportion
proportion
Specific exercises Small ↑ proportion Large proportion Large proportion
proportion
Competition Small ↑ proportion Large proportion Large proportion
exercises proportion

Movement specificity Low to Moderate to high High High

moderate
Athletic abilities that Development Development Maintenance Maintenance
are important in the
sport
Athletic abilities that Development Maintenance Maintenance Maintenance
are moderately Maintenance
important in the sport
New technical Introduction Consolidation; ↑ Consolidation Consolidation;
elements success rate during maintenance;
Acquisition Technical element refinement; link with
execution
variations more advanced
Correct
execution elements

Acquired technical Consolidation Consolidation Consolidation or Maintenance or

elements maintenance; link refinement
Increase Technical element with more advanced
success rate variations elements
during
execution
Tactical knowledge Correct link Acquisition of basic Variation in basic Variation in basic
between tactics; athletes' tactics; athletes' tactics; athletes'
technical and specific roles in specific roles in specific roles in their
tactical their execution their execution execution
elements
Tactical elements Recognition of Read and react Vary responses Vary responses
(decision-making) certain tactical quickly to situation according to according to
situations (conditions demands of the demands of the
controlled by the situation (conditions situation (random
coach) controlled by coach conditions)
and random
conditions)
Mental preparation Self-knowledge Concentration Emotional control Emotional control
(anxiety) (confidence)
Setting
objectives
Types of practices Choose according to the types of skills to be learned

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Progression Parameters in a Sport Program

Program Element Beginning ↔ End of
of Program Program
Practice conditions Predictable ↑ in unpredictability Unpredictability and Unpredictability and
and consequence of consequence of consequence of
Stable errors similar to errors similar to
errors
competition competition
Activity complexity Simple to Moderate; High High
moderate progressive ↑
Activity intensity Moderate Progressive ↑; Close to Competition
during practices approaches competition intensity
competition intensity
intensity
Amount of work Moderate; Progressive ↑; high Levelling-out and Progressive ↓;
during practices: progressive ↓
progressive ↑ moderate
general
Amount of work ↑ in number of Progressive ↑ in Progressive ↑ in Maintenance of
during practices: repetitions, length of effort and length of effort, ↓ in length of effort and
particular constant length number of number of recovery time, ↓ in
considerations of effort repetitions repetitions and number of
recovery repetitions

Legend: ↓ : decrease ↑ : increase

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Progression Parameters Applied to Technical and Tactical Training in Team Sports (Charles Cardinal, 1993)
Stages Learning the Consolidation Developing Tactical Integrating Evaluating/
Movement's or Maintaining Intelligence in Athletes/Movements in a Controlling
Mechanics Technical Competition Group; Competition
Efficiency Evaluating/Controlling Effectiveness
Objectives Acquire the overall form Stabilize the Develop the players' self- Increase tactical knowledge Follow individual directions in
of the movement execution of the reliance on the field Create a group of possible applying the game plan
movements under a Perform the task with solutions to situations frequently Pursuit of the same objective
variety of conditions less effort encountered by all members of the team
Develop technical Control unpredictability. Seek to take advantage or to
details Increase decision-making dominate the opponent
Develop a efficiency
repertoire of
techniques
Practice Artificial; easy and Controlled by the 2, 3, 4 players in a partial Controlled or unpredictable. Similarity of tactical
Conditions constant coach but getting and temporary game Full teams on the field responses by the players in a
Controlled by the coach closer to real game phase Read a situation and react given situation
Blocked practice situations Controlled or Execution speed and
unpredictable synchronization among the
players in the tactical options
and combinations
Content Basic position Speed up Execution of a partial Individual directions for game Coordination, pace, and flow
Interception movement movement phase of the game plan of individual actions
Interception position Be precise Identification of tactical Systematization of the players'
Propulsive movement Add other components related to an roles and tasks at various
movements analysis of the situation moments of the game
Contact with implement and the choice of
or passing Practise at various Independent identification of
places on the field appropriate responses tactical solutions given the
characteristics
circumstances
Methods Simple exercises Simple exercises Simple exercises with Directed games Variation in the team's
Serial-skill opponents Exhibition games responses in the same
exercises Complex exercises situation
Modified games
Task Concentration Concentration Concentration Concentration
Requirements Optical-motor Optical-motor judgment Optical-motor judgment
Movement control judgment (i.e. Detection of meaningful Detection of meaningful cues and
(optimal nervous-system trajectories; hand- cues and choice of choice of appropriate motor
stimulation) eye, and foot-eye appropriate motor response
coordination) response Memory (recall of potentially
successful solutions)

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Acknowledgments, References, and Glossary

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, REFERENCES,
AND GLOSSARY

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Acknowledgments, References, and Glossary

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Main Writer
Alain Marion

Contributors
Garry Armstrong, Istvan Balyi, Kathy Brook, Charles Cardinal, Guylaine Demers, Cyndie Flett,
Pascale Gauthier, Peter Goodman, Dave Hill, Dave Hubley, Doug Krochak, Yvon Lachance,
Daniel Leister, Michael Luke, Don McGavern, Rob Meckling, Anna Mees, Norm Olenick, Diane
Oligny, Ian Reade, Bill Redden, Thérèse Saulnier, Tony Simmons, Jean Vaillancourt
Production
Lucie LeBel, MATRA ● gs Translation Services Inc., Tressa Sorochan, Louise Wood

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Acknowledgments, References, and Glossary

REFERENCES
Balyi, I. “Sport System Building and Long-Term Athlete Development in Canada: The Situation
and the Solutions”, Coaches Report, Vol. 8 No. 1, Summer 2001.

Bompa, T. Theory and Methodology of Training: The Key to Athletic Performance, Kendall/Hunt
Publishing Company, 1994.

Coaching Association of Canada, Coaching Theory, Level 2, Ottawa, 1989.

Coaching Association of Canada, Coaching Theory, Level 3, Ottawa, 1990.

Magill, R.A. Motor Learning: Concepts and Applications (3rd edition), Brown, Dubuque IA, 1989.

Manno, R. Les bases de l’entraînement sportif, Éditions Revue EPS, Paris, 1992.

Platonov, V. N. L’entraînement sportif : Théorie et méthodologie (2e édition), Éditions Revue

EPS, Paris, 1988.

Schmidt, R. A. Motor Learning and Performance: From Principles to Practice, Human Kinetics,
1991.

Weineck, J. Manuel d’entraînement (4e édition), Vigot, Paris, 1997.

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 Design a Basic Sport Program: Acknowledgments, References, and Glossary

GLOSSARY
Glossary
Ability The quality of being able to do something, especially the physical, mental,
financial, or legal power to accomplish something.
Adaptation Changes that occur in the organism as a result of the administration of a
stimulus (i.e., training). Adaptations are usually specific to the nature of the
stimulus imposed.
Adolescence The period of physical and psychological development from the onset of
puberty to maturity.
Aerobic Aerobic Endurance is the body's ability to exercise whole muscle groups
endurance over an extended period of time at moderate intensity, using aerobic
energy. Your aerobic system uses oxygen to break down carbohydrates
and convert them into lasting energy.
Aerobic stamina The ability to sustain a dynamic effort over an extended period of time
(normally, efforts lasting several minutes or even hours). Note: Intense
efforts lasting between 2 and 10 minutes require a subset of this athletic
ability referred to as maximum aerobic power.
Agility The ability to execute movements or to move rapidly, with precision, and
with ease.
Balance The ability to achieve and maintain stability. There are three types of
balance: (1) static balance: adopting a controlled body position in a stable
environment; (2) dynamic balance: maintaining control during movement
or stabilizing the body by performing muscular contractions to offset the
effect of an external force; and (3) the ability to keep an object or another
body under control either in a static or a dynamic manner.
Biological age Age expressed relative to physiological and anatomical function and level
of development in comparison to other individuals of the same
chronological age.
Childhood The period between birth and puberty.

Chronological age Number of years and days since date of birth.

Closed skill A skill that takes place in a stable, predictable environment by a performer
who knows exactly what to do and when. A closed skill is therefore not
affected by the environment and tends to be habitual. Movements follow
set patterns, have a clear beginning and end, and tend to be self-paced,
for example, a free throw in basketball or a serve in squash or tennis.
Continuous skill A skill that has no particular beginning or end and lasts for many minutes,
e.g. swimming or riding a bicycle.
Coordination The ability to perform movements in the correct order and with the right
timing.
Cyclical sport A sport in which a movement is repeated over and over, e.g swimming or
running.
Discrete skill A skill that features an easily defined beginning and end, and is usually of
brief duration (e.g. throwing a ball).
Early developer An individual whose growth spurts happen earlier then average.

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Glossary
Flexibility The ability to perform movements of large amplitude about a joint without
sustaining injury.
Late developer An individual whose growth spurts happen later then average.

Massed practice A sequence of practice and rest periods in which the rest time is much less
then the practice time.
Maximal aerobic The highest work rate or power output at which energy can be produced
power (MAP) aerobically. MAP is determined by two factors: VO2max and mechanical
efficiency. Under normal conditions, an intensity of 100% of MAP can be
sustained for approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
Maximal oxygen Highest amount of oxygen that can be used by the body to produce
consumption energy when performing a particular form of exercise at maximal intensity.
(VO2max)
Maximum speed The highest rate at which a movement or a series of movements can be
executed, or the ability to cover a given distance in the shortest possible
time during an all-out effort of very short duration (8 seconds or less).
Maximum strength The highest level of tension generated by a muscle or muscle group
during a maximum contraction, regardless of the duration of the
contraction.
Motor ability The quality of being able to do something physical.

Open skill A skill performed in an environment that is constantly changing and in

which movements must be continually adapted. An open skill is
predominantly perceptual and mostly externally paced, for example, a
pass in football. Sports such as netball, football, and hockey usually
involve open skills.
Overload Making the training harder then the body is used to. In so doing, the body
adapts and becomes stronger, faster, etc.
Part practice The learning technique in which the task is broken down into parts for
separate practice.
Specificity A principle of training according to which adaptations are determined by
the nature and magnitude of the training stimulus. This concept implies
that, to maximize adaptation, the nature and the conditions of training
activities must be designed to replicate closely those encountered in
competition. Specificity therefore applies to variables such as type of
activity, muscle masses involved, motor pattern, speed of movement,
environmental conditions, power output, duration of effort, and cognitive
and perceptual demands.
Speed-endurance The ability to sustain efforts at near-maximum speed for as long as
possible (normally, very intense efforts lasting between 8 and 60 seconds).
Speed-strength The ability to perform a muscle contraction or overcome a resistance as
fast as possible (normally, very brief efforts of 1-2 seconds).
Strength- The ability to perform repeated muscle contractions at intensities below
endurance maximum strength (normally, 15-30 repetitions or more).

Variable practice A practice in which varying learning conditions are used, e.g. in baseball,
hitting random pitches (fastball, curve, slider) versus hitting only fastballs.

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Appendices

APPENDICES

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APPENDIX 1 — GENERAL PROCESS FOR DESIGNING A SPORT

PROGRAM: KEY STEPS

Determine the General Orientation of the Program

1. Determine the coaching context in which your program will be implemented. To do
so, take into account variables such as your sport, the age of your athletes, their
training and competition background, and previous performances they have
achieved.
2. Taking into consideration notions of growth and development, determine the major
orientation that your program should have (FUNdamentals, Training to Train, Training
to Compete, Training to Win).
3. Using your sport’s athlete development model, identify specific aspects that must be
featured within your program from a technical, tactical, physical, and mental point of
view. (Note: You can obtain this information by contacting your National Sport
Organization.)
4. Using your sport’s athlete development model, make a general assessment of your
athletes’ strengths and weaknesses, given their age.

Establish the Structure of Your Program

5. Make an inventory of the competitions in which you would like your athletes to
compete throughout the season, and determine their relative importance (regular,
important, exhibition, tournaments, playoffs, championship, etc.).
6. Make an inventory of the training opportunities available to you and to your athletes
(number of practices or training sessions per week, duration of each session,
facilities and equipment available).
7. Determine when the first official competition will take place. Enter this date on your
program planning form; it will represent the beginning of the Competition Period of
your program.
8. Determine when the last official competition will take place. Enter this date on your
program planning form; it will represent the end of the Competition Period and the
beginning of the Transition Period of your program.
9. Determine when the first formal training contact with your athletes will take place.
Enter this date on your program planning form; it will represent the beginning of the
Preparation Period and the end of the Transition Period of your program.
10. Identify the various events that will be featured in your program (training camps,
regular competitions, important competitions, tournaments, championships,
selections or trials, fundraising activities, social events, etc.), and specify their
relative importance. Indicate the date of these events on your program planning
form.

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Determining the Training Priorities, Objectives, and Methods

of a Given Week of Your Program
11. From the series of sample sport programs provided, choose the one that suits your
particular family of sports; alternatively, use a similar template already produced by
your sport.
12. Choose a week of the program.
13. Using the code based on lines of varying thicknesses, identify the most important
athletic abilities (maximum of 5) to train in this particular week.
14. Using the colour code, identify the training objectives associated with each of the
athletic abilities you have selected.
15. Ask your athletes to validate these objectives to ensure they match their skills,
interests, and motivations; for instance, ask them to complete questionnaires such as
the ones proposed in the Reference Document of the Introductory module.
16. For each combination of athletic ability – objective, identify appropriate types of
exercises that could be used during practices (for all athletic abilities) and practice
conditions (for sport-specific technical and tactical elements only).
17. For each athletic ability you have identified, and bearing in mind the desired
objective, determine the number of training sessions needed per week and the
amount of time that must be planned for training during each practice. Note: You
may choose to spend more time than the “minimum recommended time for training a
particular athletic ability; however, you should not devote less time than
recommended if you really want to achieve the desired training effect.
18. Add up all the training time required. This represents the amount of time you should
devote to training in the week you have chosen.
19. To determine if the total time obtained in Step 18 is realistic for your training situation,
add up the number of practice sessions that you can have during the week and the
length of the main part of each session. This figure represents the actual training
time available to train the various athletic abilities in the week you have chosen.
20. Determine the gap between the time required in the ideal situation (Step 18) and the
actual time available for training in the week you have chosen (Step 19).
21. If the gap in time is significant, consider the following questions when you come to
decide which athletic abilities to priorize:
• Can the athletes train certain athletic abilities individually, outside your practice
sessions, or before or after the sessions?
• Is it possible to combine the training of certain athletic abilities in your sessions?
• Which athletic abilities are the most important according to the sample program
of your family of sports?
22. Bearing in mind the training time available (Step 19) and the reflection you did in
Steps 20 and 21, lay out the training priorities and content in the different practice
sessions of the week. Use the Planning a Practice Session Worksheet (page 71)
and, for each session, specify the following information:

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• The athletic abilities to be worked on

• The training objectives
• The practice conditions and types of activities that are appropriate
• The training methods and the time devoted to training each athletic ability
Once you have this information, you should be able to put together the main part of each of your
practice sessions using the process presented in the module Planning a Practice.

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APPENDIX 2 — THE SELECTION OF ATHLETES

Most coaches must, at one point or another, make decisions about the selection of athletes. The
goal of these decisions can be to identify those who (1) will be chosen for a team, (2) will take
part in a particular competition, (3) will go with the team to a tournament, or (4) will have more
competitive opportunities.
These decisions are often unavoidable because of restrictions on the number of athletes who
can register for certain competitions or be part of a team. Even in cases where each athlete can
take part in competitions or the club or team has a policy stating that each athlete can take part,
financial resources may be insufficient to provide everyone with equal support. In either of these
scenarios, the coach may have to select some athletes and not select others.

Possible Negative Impacts of Selection

Decisions about the selection of athletes inevitably lead to some disappointment among those
who were not chosen or among their parents. Indeed, most athletes will have invested
considerable effort and energy to be picked, to say nothing of the financial investments made by
their parents and others. When they learn the news, the athletes might feel they have failed.
Some will be afraid of their family and friends' reactions or even be ashamed of themselves
after this perceived failure, which might negatively affect their self-esteem. Now and then, the
athletes or their parents show some frustration; these negative reactions can even encourage
athletes to change sports or drop out of organized sport.
Selection is a serious task that coaches must carry out professionally.

Make the Selection Procedure and Criteria Public

To minimize the negative reactions that can arise after selecting athletes, make sure that all
athletes, their parents, and the club or sport association directors know exactly when and how
the decision will be made.
In other words, clearly indicate when the decision will be made, who will make it, how it will be
made, how many athletes will be chosen, and what criteria will be used to make the decisions.
Other information (e.g. the place [when necessary], the opportunities available in the future for
those who were not picked, and the options for appealing a decision) can also be part of the
procedure and criteria.
Defining the selection procedure and criteria is often more difficult than it appears at first glance,
given the stakes involved for the athletes, the resulting consequences and emotions, and the
numerous unforeseen situations that can arise. It is therefore useful to talk about this subject
with other coaches, experienced directors, and even with the athletes themselves. This will
provide you with feedback and ideas from people who often have a wide range of experience
with the difficulties involved in trials and who have developed effective ways of managing the
process fairly. Even if you have a clear idea of how you want to proceed, the viewpoints of
others can help you refine your procedure and criteria and make them clearer and more explicit.
The selection procedure and criteria should be written out and handed out to the athletes, their
parents, and the club or sport association directors well before the date you intend to announce
your decision. Moreover, you might consider having the procedure and criteria approved by the
athletes, parents, and administrators before making your procedure and criteria public. This will

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provide you with feedback and suggestions and ensure that everyone has understood the
implications of what was announced.

Selection Procedure and Criteria

When you are writing up the selection procedure and criteria, you should consider the following:

 Do not conduct trials unless you are obliged to do so, and encourage the largest
possible number of athletes to take part in the program activities. Do not be afraid to call
into question certain well-established practices whose main effect is to discourage young
people and reduce their development opportunities. For example, consider forming more
than one team or more than one training group when possible, and take on some
assistants.

 If you absolutely have to carry out trials, make sure that their timing is well chosen, so as
not to interfere with the main principles of athletic development. Moreover, avoid
selecting athletes very early in the program. The latter is not recommended in programs
involving young athletes for the following reasons: (1) an early emphasis on specific
preparation and program performance is detrimental to a more progressive approach to
training that focuses on long-term development; (2) the athletes who have not done any
specific training during the off-season or who have participated in other sports are often
at a disadvantage compared to those who have been involved in sport-specific training
all year, even when they have high athletic potential. Selecting athletes at the beginning
of the program encourages early specialization and emphasizes results too early in the
season, which is not desirable for the long-term development of young athletes.

 The selection criteria must reflect the values and development objectives of the coach,
club, and sport association (participation, equal opportunities for everyone, performance,
progress, effort, attitude, etc.).

 The procedure and criteria must be simply and clearly described and have no grey
zones. Everyone must unequivocally understand the how, when, and where, as well as
other information dealing with the number of athletes who will be picked and the person
or group in charge of decision-making. Complicated phrasing that no one can
understand should be avoided.

 Whenever possible, the criteria should include objective elements, such as specific
performance standards, a point system, statistics dealing with important aspects of your
sport, results during previously identified competitions, etc. Such an approach will make
it possible to avoid situations where athletes feel excluded from the outset and feel they
have no chance of being picked because a given person is in charge of the selection
process. These criteria must also appear to be fair and reasonable to the majority of
athletes.

 Make sure that your criteria cover the most likely scenarios and possibilities. For
instance, what happens if one of the athletes is sick or injured, breaks equipment during
one of the trial stages, or cannot be present for an unavoidable reason? Moreover, what
constitutes an injury or an unavoidable reason? What happens in the case of a tie or if
one of the preliminary trials is not held? What happens if one of the athletes who has
systematically dominated has a poor performance? Or if certain athletes who are

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showing considerable potential are not yet able to perform at the required level, despite
the fact that, in the weeks to come, they will undoubtedly surpass others who might be
picked at selection time? Crossing your fingers and hoping that this type of situation will
not happen is not a good strategy, since experience shows that this kind of dilemma
occurs fairly frequently. One of the possible options is to prepare for these possibilities
by indicating in the criteria that a certain number of athletes will be picked at the coach's
discretion. In other words, they will be picked based on your personal evaluation of their
current or future aptitudes, their level of commitment, and their attitude. However, you
should expect to be asked to justify any choices based on the coach's discretion...

 Make sure that the criteria are explained exactly the same way to each athlete, to other
coaches, parents, and members of the team or club's support personnel. Avoid
presenting different and incompatible selection approaches separately to different
people, since the resulting differences in understanding and expectations may prove
impossible to reconcile and carry out.

 When appropriate, indicate that the criteria were developed to identify athletes who have
a particular profile or who demonstrate precise performance skills or aptitudes. This can
allow you to provide additional explanations about why certain criteria are used. In such
a case, it could be useful to refer to certain facts or statistics to justify the choice of
criteria.

 Once the criteria are made public, you will have to stick to what was announced, even if
the implementation of the procedure and criteria create some surprises about which
athletes are selected. In this way, you will prove your integrity and credibility in other
people's eyes. This possibility shows how important it is to seriously think about the
procedure and criteria used in selecting athletes.

Managing Selection Announcements

 Once your decision has been made, meet individually and as quickly as possible with
each athlete who was not selected to tell him or her about your choice. Avoid making
public or delayed announcements or relaying the information to an athlete through a
third party.

 Do the following when you meet with athletes:

• Reassert their strong points
• Praise their participation and efforts
• Go over the selection criteria and the way you applied them
• Avoid comparing athletes during the discussion
• Provide simple, precise, and constructive improvement strategies
• Take the drama out of the trials. Remind athletes that there will be other
opportunities and that the most important thing is not the final result but to have
tried one's best
• Encourage them to continue and persevere; express your confidence in them
• Acknowledge their emotions, and be ready to listen to them
• Respect their dignity at all times
• Actively seek their comments and reactions, and respect their viewpoint

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• Before proceeding with the announcements, find out about the possible
alternatives for those who have not been picked so that you can suggest options
to them; for instance, provide them with the phone number of another coach who
could take them into their program
• Make sure that the athletes learn a positive lesson from the experience; end on a
positive note by praising, once again, their participation and effort and reassert
their strong points
 Meet with the parents of each athlete who was not selected to answer their questions.

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APPENDIX 3 — SAMPLE PLANNING WORKSHEETS

Abilities to Train Worksheet
Sport: _________________________
Week # ________ of the program

Athletic Abilities to Training Objectives Types of Exercises/ Number of Training

Train Practice Conditions Sessions/
Time Required
1. ( ) General exercises
( ) Specific exercises ____ sessions/week X
( ) Competition exercises ____ minutes/session
Practice Conditions: = ________ h : min

2. ( ) General exercises
( ) Specific exercises ____ sessions/week X
( ) Competition exercises ____ minutes/session
Practice Conditions: = ________ h : min

3. ( ) General exercises
( ) Specific exercises ____ sessions/week X
( ) Competition exercises ____ minutes/session
Practice Conditions: = ________ h : min

4. ( ) General exercises
( ) Specific exercises ____ sessions/week X
( ) Competition exercises ____ minutes/session
Practice Conditions: = ________ h : min

5. ( ) General exercises
( ) Specific exercises ____ sessions/week X
( ) Competition exercises ____ minutes/session
Practice Conditions: = ________ h : min

Total training time

required for the week
________________ h : min

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Planning a Practice Session Worksheet

Coaching priorities during the week

Week from: _______________ to: _________________ Phase: _______________________

Training focus for the week:
Practice #1 Date: Training Description

Physical ability

Motor ability

Skill ability

Activities

Time

Practice conditions

Objective

Practice #2 Date: Training Description

Physical ability

Motor ability

Skill ability

Activities

Time

Practice conditions

Objective

Practice #3 Date: Training Description

Physical ability

Motor ability

Skill ability

Activities

Time

Practice conditions

Objective

Total minutes: _______ Total minutes: ________ Total minutes: _____

Practice session 1 Practice session 2 Practice session 3

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Planning Calendar Worksheet

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Design a Basic Sport Program: Reference Material

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