One member of the Supertraining Yahoo group asked Mel Siff;
<I am currently writing a research paper and am wondering if anyone has any
literature or references regarding the periodization of mental skills
training (psychological skills periodization). Any input would be greatly
appreciated.
*** In writing any research paper, it is vital to introduce the study by
providing some of the salient background, history, science and definitions.
In the case of your project, the entire concept of exactly what is meant by
“periodisation” needs to be summarised first in the “Introduction”.
Let’s begin with a point of technical pedantry. While it is possible to
refer to the periodisation of physical skills of all types, it is more
appropriate to refer to the organisation and programming of mental or
psychological drills or skills. This is because periodisation was conceived
as a method of long-term planning of sports training based upon fluctuations
in one’s physiological state, as I described in Ch 6 of “Supertraining”
(which also offers a great deal of information on many different types and
models of “periodisation” and “planning”).
Nobody has shown that cognitive processes follow some naturally varying
physiological (or psychophysiological) scheme, even though variations in
certain psychophysiological processes such as reaction time, arousal and
kinaesthetic sensitivity have been observed (e.g. see Fogel in
“Biotechnology” and other texts on ergonomics). However, these are not
cognitive in nature. Thus, depending on one’s individual abilities,
capabilities, training history and level of overall fatigue, one can execute
as many cognitive mental drills as is desired, presuming that the necessary
time is available to master them.
A fundamental characteristic of all periodisation models is the planning of
training to ensure that certain peaks in performance are achieved in specific
major competitions. Since mental skills do not change in a comparable way as
do physical quantities such as strength, power, speed and endurance, they
cannot accurately be periodised. That, of course, is why you will struggle
to find any valid research information on that topic. Before you can even
think of writing about mental periodisation, you need to find research which
validates any hypothesis that mental events fluctuate and reach peaks over a
prolonged period.
Maybe you would care to elaborate on the objectives and scope of your
intended project, so that some of us can better guide you in your labours.
Dr Mel C Siff
