Abstract

Strength training is of paramount importance in the development of athletes, but it must consist of more than just lifting weights without a specific purpose or plan. The purpose of any training method or technique should be to prepare athletes for competition - the ideal test of their abilities, skills, and psychological readiness. To achieve the best results, athletes should be exposed to a planning-periodization program, or sport- and phase-specific variations of training. The term periodization emphasizes the unique nature of periodization of strength, the foremost concept in strength training. This book demonstrates how to use periodization of strength in structuring a strength training program and specifies which training methods are best for each training phase. The phases are planned according to the competition schedule, with each having a specific goal. Ultimately, the entire training program aims at achieving peak performance for the most important competitions of the year. Periodization of strength designates the type of strength to be developed in each training phase to ensure reaching the highest levels of power or muscular endurance. Developing the required sport-specific combination of these abilities prior to the competitive phase is a must, because they form the physiological foundation on which athletic performance relies. The key element in organizing periodized strength training to develop power or muscular endurance is the sequence in which various types of strength training are planned. This sequence of specific training phase is the secret of the periodization of strength method. Aus dem Vorwort