I just finished putting on a workshop at Texas Woman’s University focused around periodization of training as well as hand’s on techniques with the kettlebells.
With regards to periodization, the talk was divided into several sections:
• Background behind periodization
• Approaches to periodization
• Research and periodization
• Application
• Future directions
The background of periodization was meant to orient attendees to what periodization is about, what it’s for, as well as some key principles and objectives that drive it. Basically periodization is about getting the athlete prepared to be at their best when it matters. In attempting to do this it encompasses the totality of the athlete’s training and attempts to take the long view of training. It is focused on steadily, methodically improving performance over time while minimizing the risks of overtraining and injury. I also discussed the concept of Supercompensation and how it relates to periodization.
With regards to the approaches to periodization, there are a lot of famous authors out there with texts on this topic, all of whom “invented” the concept, and all of whom use different language for the same things. So I reviewed Matveyev and Bompa, pros and cons of their works, similarities and differences. I also attempted to put each work in its historical and societal context. We also discussed the approach emphasized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and where that came from.
I have pretty thoroughly reviewed the research on periodization in an article that I co-wrote with Mike Barnes and Allen Hedrick for the Strength and Conditioning Journal. I shared with the attendees some of the shortcomings of research on this topic, highlighted several really good studies on it, and invited the attendees to read and make their own decisions.
I have them several steps on developing periodized programs for situations. Essentially develop the big picture, decide when the athlete needs to be at their best and then work backwards from that. The further out in time something is, the more generally it needs to be planned. Essentially plan the next 2-6 weeks in great detail with the rest planned out in concept. Halfway through the current block of training, plan the next in great detail, etc. This is because long-term periodized plans are pretty works of art, but they have to be scraped when they meet the athlete. Athletes don’t respond like spreadsheets, they get sick, they break up with boyfriends and girlfriends, have exams, in other words life happens and the further out you plan in detail the less control you have over things. We worked through examples of college football, college track and field, as well as training just to train.
The future directions part of the talk discussed the shortcomings of the concept of supercompensation (see http://wp.me/p1XfMm-65 for an idea of these), Verkoshansky’s criticisms of Matveyev’s approach, dissected conjugate training, discussed Vern Gambetta’s criticisms of classic periodization, covered Bondarchuk’s approach to simultaneous and alternate training, and concluded by inviting the attendees to read everything and think for themselves.
Kettlebells was the hand’s on part of the workshop. Today our focus was on some core, total body exercises and fundamentals of techniques. We focused on the two-handed swing, the one-handed swing, overhead squats, windmills, and the get up. Each was learn by doing.
