Mel Siff Blog

Here is a further snippet of Russian information on monitoring the
effectiveness of training, coming from as far back as 1973 (Petrovsky).
These are his four indicators:

1. Percentage improvement in planned results relative to initial results

2. Precision of achieving planned results at the time needed

3. The number of training sessions needed for achieving the planned results
(the fewer the workouts, the greater the effectiveness of the training)

4. The duration for which the results are maintained at the planned level.

In addition, it is vital to distinguish in the graphs of performance
variation the differences between:

- Loss of sporting form
- Undulations in trainability.

In this respect, it is important to note that the various components of
sporting form are not lost (or maximised) simultaneously. The Russian
proponents of various periodisation or training organisation schemes often
point out that passive rest usually leads to a more rapid loss of sporting
form and that various regimes of active and passive restoration form an
integral part of the entire training scheme.

Just in case the sports massage terrorists exclaim that this is exactly what
they have been advocating for years, let them also note that the Russians
emphasize that repeated application of the same restoration means in
precisely the same way produces stagnation and loss of form just like the
regular use of the same training regime.

Sometimes they stress the critical role by avoiding restoration of certain
parts of the body or the whole body over certain phases so as to provoke
more rapid or more enduring adaptation (e.g. study Dr Zatsiorsky’s fine text
‘Science and Practice of Strength Training’ on the modes of adaptation. The
different acute and delayed effects of specific training loads are discussed
in my “Supertraining” book. Thus, it is not unusual for some ‘periodisation’
schemes to be based on a background of deliberately maintained fatigue at
certain stages of advanced training.

This additional information may now enable users to dissect or understand
some of the strengths and limitations of existing models more easily – but
remember that this is till the tip of the whole confusing iceberg of exercise
programming and organisation.

———-

Mel Siff

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