Wayne Lombard

BSpSc (Hons) Biokinetics , CSCS (NSCA)Presently Studying MPhil Biokinetics (UCT ESSM)

Discovery High Performance Centre, Sports Science Institute of South Africa

Managing Athlete Performance:

The Science of Monitoring

Coaches Conference, UWC Cape Town, 2012

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A Paradigm Shift

Moving away from using sports science as a “one-stop-shop” Is a key into the

marriage between coaches and scientists…. By recognizing that it is now

a 24 hour 365 day a year job!

Compensation Training

Load

Intensity

Frequency

Volume

Nutrition

R&R

Why is Monitoring becoming so important?

It is a method of assessing the imbalances between training

stressors and recovery

Overtraining vs. Overreaching

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Overtraining

is a physical, behavioral, and emotional condition that occurs when the volume and intensity

of an individual's exercise exceeds their recovery capacity

OR Untreated or Long term

overreaching

Overreaching An accumulation of training and/or non-training stress resulting in a short-term

decrement in performance capacity with or without related physiological and psychological

signs and symptoms of overtraining BUT a recovery

phase allows for super- compensation to occur

Overtraining

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The summative effect of all the stressors will depend on the intensity, nature, duration and

distribution over time of the stress

This definition allows one to recognize that there are different types of stress e.g. social, psychological and

physiological.

How do we detect Overtraining?

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Science has as yet not set up a sensitive gauge of overtraining

that is non invasive, inexpensive and applicable to all athletes. Scientists tell us therefore to monitor indicators of fatigue.

Selected Indicators:

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FOUR CATEGORIESPsychological / Physiological / Biomechanical / Immunological

1. Change in mood states2. lethargy3. Insomnia4. Loss of appetite5. Impaired physical performance6. Gradual weight loss7. Poor co-ordination8. Increase in morning HR >5 beats9. Slower recovery in HR after exertion10. Heavy legs, limited recovery11. Inc/dec concentration of specific blood molecules12. Alterations in immune function

Athlete Management

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The long and short term management of

our athletes is the key to performance.

How do we ensure that we have positive

adaptations to your training prescription?

Periodisation is a plan for conditioning, based on the manipulation of VOLUME and

INTENSITY of physical work and other variables, over a specific period of time.

The goal of periodisation is to plan in advance to achieve peak performance at a specific time without overtraining or injury

Periodization helps an Athlete adapt to training demands.

Adap

tatio

n le

vel

Sub-optimal:• Diet• Recovery

management

Training Adaptation

Failure

Over Training / load

To low a load or stress on body

Alarm Stage

Periodization is Key!

Off Season(5

Months)

Pre Season

(2 Months)

In Season( 4

Months)

Active Rest

(1 Month)

Macro Cycle (1 year long)

Meso Cycle 1 Meso Cycle 2 Meso Cycle 3 Meso Cycle 4

Meso Cycle 1 Meso Cycle 2 Meso Cycle 3 Meso Cycle 41 2 7 9653 4 8 10 11 12

1 2 3 4

Micro cycles

How have we put it all together?

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AMAS Athlete Monitoring & Assessment System

“Brining Science to life”

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Integration of subjective data

compared to objective

physiological responses to exercise & recovery

Subjective Data

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Subjective Data Capturing

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Subjective Data Capturing

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Objective Data:Physiological Responses

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Heart rate monitoring

• Use of HR zones (accumulated time spent in each heart rate zone)• TRIMP• % Heart rate reserve • Orthostatic• Morning HR • Recovery heart rates• Heart rate variability

Objective Data:Physiological Responses

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Heart rate recovery

“Heart rate recovery is the rate at which heart rate decreases, usually in the first minute or two, after

moderate to heavy exercise and is a consequence of parasympathetic re activation and sympathetic

withdrawal”

(Borreson and Lambert 2007)

Objective Data:Physiological Responses

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Heart Rate Interval Monitoring System

HIMS

The HIMS is a system which quantifies training volume,

intensity and subjective feelings of fatigue in relation to

Heart rate recovery levels

Objective Data:Physiological Responses

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Practical Example

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Monitoring is to elite sport what accounting is to

business – constant, accurate and ongoing

measurement so that decision-making and training

programmes can be optimised.

27Thank You