Ciclo de Auto-Regeneración en Adestramento

Introduction to Theory and Methodology of Training

• The course is on Theory and Methodology of Training, a theoretical unit.
• It's part of the School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at the University of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD).
• The date of this material is September 23, 2024.

Summary

• Concepts, including sport training, training objectives, training load, and performance capacity are discussed.
• Biological underpinnings of sports training (CARMV) are explained.

Sport Training

• Sport training involves measures to improve, maintain, or sometimes reduce sports performance.
• A biological perspective focuses on producing systematic and frequent motor stimuli, targeting morphological and functional adaptations.
• A pedagogical angle shows its planned and purposeful impact on individuals.

Objectives of Sport Training

• Mastering and improving technique and tactics.
• Adapting the body to training and competitive pressures (increasing workload, learning abilities, and developing motor skills).
• Developing progressive psychological resilience for the rigors of competition.

Planning of Sports Performance

• This systematic approach to performance, grounded in scientific principles, spans short, medium, and long terms.
• It includes necessary programming, execution, monitoring, analysis, and correction to enhance sports performance.

Periodization

• Training year is categorized into time-bound periods with explicit goals and content.
• The periodization process of sporting fitness is recurring, not static.
• Three main phases of this cyclical periodization encompass development, consolidation, and reduction/loss.

Classification of Training Load

• A training load is the sum of physical and neural stimuli that aim to either enhance or sustain a training status.
• External load denotes the external mechanical work performed, independent of internal factors.
• Internal load involves the physiological and psychological responses triggered by external stimuli adapted to an individual's capacity.

Process of Human Organism Adaptation

• The primary aim of training is improving athletic performance in competition.
• The process of adaptation is multi-faceted (morphological, functional, technical, tactical, and psychological) and tied to competition requirements.
• Physiological, biochemical, neuromuscular, behavioural/psychological, and structural adaptations constitute an integrated process leading to improved performance.

Load and Performance Capacity

• This aspect relates training load to performance capacity.
• The body's adaptive response is shown as a reaction/adaptation to external stimuli that disrupt the body's balance.
• This biological response/adaptation in sport training is known as training load.

Space of Sports Training

• Training occurs in a continuous cyclical process (load, response, recovery and adaptation).
• The process of adapting to training occurs within a system that balances stress, adaptation, and recovery.

Biological Foundation of Sports Training Process

• The training process involves a cyclical phenomenon of challenge, breakdown, and recovery.
• Exertion leads to stress and the necessity for restorative mechanisms.
• Breakdown is followed by rebuilding, which enhances capacity and produces better performance.

Law of Roux-Arnoldt Schultz

• Insufficient training load results in muscle atrophy and decreased performance.
• Moderate load doesn't directly impact training and performance but enables maintenance.
• High training load, is ideal for stimulating muscle growth and improved function.
• Excessively heavy loads can overstrain the body, causing performance declines.

Structure of Sports Performance

• Performance structure encompasses various interconnected elements: psychological capacity, genetic factors, technical skills, cognitive capacity, and external factors.
• Physical fitness, including strength, endurance, speed, and flexibility, are key components of overall performance.
• External factors include situational or environmental influences that affect performance.

Summary of Theoretical Section

• The subjects covered (sport training, types of training loads, periodization, principles of training) comprise a coherent overview.
• This introductory section serves to lay the theoretical groundwork before delving into specific training types and methodologies.

Summary of Unit 2

• The unit covers the components of training load—quantities such as volume, intensity, duration, density, complexity, and frequency—and their relationships.
• It describes how these elements affect training outcomes and how their proper management is crucial in training.

Summary of Unit 3

• The unit covers the biological, methodological, and pedagogical principles of sports training.
• It specifically highlights the importance of biological principles like overload, specificity, reversibility, and the individual differences aspect when formulating appropriate training programs for sportspeople.

Summary of Unit 4

• The unit focuses on categorizing motor abilities (coordinative and conditional).
• It details the factors influencing motor skill development.
• It also discusses the biological determinants of growth, maturation, and development.
• Other relevant factors influencing these are hereditary, ethnic, neuro-endocrine, nutritional, and environmental aspects.

Summary of Unit 5

• The unit details the definition and delimitation of the concept of force, describing different forms of force (e.g. maximal and rapid force, and force resistance) and relating it to factors like muscle structure, metabolic processes, and neural pathways.
• It expounds on how force varies according to muscle actions, whether static (isometric) or dynamic (concentric/eccentric), and the implications for training.

Summary of Unit 6

• Factors influencing force production, both central and peripheral nervous system components, are examined.
• The unit goes into detail about central nervous system components (recruitment, rate, and synchronicity of motor units).
• The unit also discusses peripheral system components (neuromuscular spindles, Golgi tendon organs, and joint receptors).

Summary of Unit 7

• The unit is devoted to the mechanisms of neuronal adaptation related to improving strength.
• It focuses on aspects like increased agonist activity, levels of force development, selective recruitment of motor units within muscle groups—and co-activation of antagonist muscles.

Summary of Unit 9

• This unit discusses methods of sports training for strength, classified as those targeting muscle hypertrophy, methods that enhance the rate of force production, and mixed methods.
• Included are specific example techniques that target hypertrophy and the development of the force-producing capacity of the musculature.

Summary of Unit 10

• The unit focuses on reactive methods of strength training, highlighting the importance of incorporating methodologies to utilize the stretch-shortening cycle.

Summary of Unit 11

• The unit introduces issues around training design that are relevant to youth populations during periods of growth and development. 
• It focuses on considerations to ensure that the training doesn't impede growth or cause injury.

Summary of Unit 12

• This unit covers the factors that determine speed: genetic and anthropometrical factors (including age and physique), sensorial and neural factors, and muscular, metabolic, and energetic components.
• It also addresses the methodology for speed development in different contexts and presents relevant exercises.

Summary of Unit 13 to 21

• This unit comprises multiple slides spanning concepts from a variety of sporting contexts.  
• Key concepts include evaluation and control of strength training, tailored considerations for children and youth, methods for improving and evaluating performance—as well as a summary of general guidelines for effective strength training.

Summary of Unit 22 & 25

• This includes presentation of comprehensive guidelines and considerations regarding development in youth athletes that align with the principles and guidelines from earlier presentations.
• This includes methodological factors and practical approaches to youth development, as well as a summary for successful long-term athlete development.