Abstract

The research was aimed to review and analyze coaches’ activities and sport training means, applied when pursuing athlete’s preparedness to reach for anticipated results in the supreme competitions – Olympic Games. The goal of research was to reveal and compare sport training management tendencies in organizational, methodical, and scientific aspects during the last cycle year when preparing for Beijing and London Olympic Games under the basis of Olympic cycle coaches activity analysis. Coaches, who were working with Olympic team athletes, were questioned in 2008 and 2012 (2008 n=29; 2012 n=21). The methods of questionnaire, analysis of coaches’ reports, and interview were applied. The results of research revealed that: 1) after comparison of coaches activity indices of last year of Beijing and London Olympic cycles, it was proved that tendencies in organizational activity, area of training loads strategy and management, and material provision basically did not change, although, negative tendencies appeared to be obvious as well: significantly more rarely plans- models were being discussed in trainers councils with scientists and medics participation; training camps with supervision of medics and scientists were organized less, too; 2) strong coaches’ need for closer coaches-medics-scientists cooperation as well as insufficient sport psychologists’ help was detected. Research results indicate that the area, related to medical and scientific provision, still happened to be insufficient in coaches’ view. During London Olympiad years, if compared to Beijing Olympiad years, coaches received less valid information from medics and scientists and only of one-third athletes’ health and physical condition was tested during competition period; 3) negative tendencies of provision in technical preparedness: insufficient sponsorship and its poor stability for athletes training process, incomplete rehabilitation programme, and unsatisfactory provision with high quality equipment – were stronger during the last years of London Olympic cycle, if compared to Beijing Olympic cycle case. Above mentioned factors alongside with gaps in coaches-medics-scientists cooperation, limited system of coaches’, who worked with high performance athletes, qualification improvement, and the lack of methodical and practical support for coaches probably influenced the fact that only two-thirds athletes reached anticipated results during London Olympic cycle. Verf.-Referat