Principles of training, nutrition and psychology

Factors affecting performance

This activity will provide you with an opportunity to examine the factors that affect performance for four athletes, a soccer player, tennis player, cricketer and triathlete. You will explore the physical and psychological bases of performance. You will be able to critically analyse the different approaches to training and skill development of each of the athletes and investigate the contributions of psychology and nutrition to performance.

Principles of training

We have all heard the statement "practice makes perfect". However, this should be expanded to read "PERFECT practice makes perfect". A training program is only effective if a number of important principles are included in its implementation: progressive overload, specificity, reversibility, variety, training thresholds and warm-up/cool down.

The body's response to training

When a person exercises there are a range of immediate physiological responses that take place within the body. These include changes in heart rate, ventilation rate, stroke volume, cardiac output and lactate levels.

Nutrition and performance

Nutrition plays a critical role in performance for athletes. The ability to draw on energy reserves during performance is essential for an athlete to perform at their peak.

Psychology and performance

The mental aspect of training is becoming more and more important. Often the difference between athletes is no longer in physical ability or skill, but in the mental strength and capabilities.