Quality of Training: An Overlooked Dimension?

Endurance sports are tough—improving skill and fitness requires hours of biking, running, swimming or skiing. A consistent training routine is critical. Joining a club program or group to work with a coach or follow a training plan are typical steps in advancing performance and skill as an endurance athlete.

As athletes accumulate training, their physical capacities and skills improve, and they can handle more and harder training. Training plans typically focus on two measurable dimensions: volume and intensity. These two dimensions are easy to identify and modulate in training plans and to quantitatively measure in athletes’ training logs—adding to the long session, adding in a second session one or two days a week, and, if using a periodized mesocycle, progressing hours in two or three successive weeks and then decreasing training volume in a “recovery week.” Intensity is similarly changed; coaches “turn up” and “turn down” the intensity in athletes’ training plans—adding higher intensity or longer intensity sessions over time and during specific training phases. Coaches are playing with the volume and intensity in their training plans like you may listen to your favourite music playlist—”turn up” the volume or increase the bass. But are volume and intensity enough?

WixMedia: Focused Practice

These two dimensions of training are simple to manipulate and to observe a progression—session time, weekly hours, monthly intensity sessions—however, are we missing a critical third dimension of training? With a focus on volume and intensity, are we missing gains that could be achieved within an athlete’s current training envelope? By asking athletes to do more volume, are they focused on completing training as the goal—survival versus thriving? Are our athletes chasing fitness rather than improving their skills and performance? Do we challenge athletes enough or provide time and space for them to improve the quality of their training/practice? Is this third-dimension, quality of training, or practice underappreciated?

Having coached cross-country skiing for nearly thirty years at several Canadian ski clubs and now a varsity ski team, I have observed poor training quality at all levels—programs and individual athletes. 

Volume without quality results in lazy training;

Intensity without quality results in underperformance; 

Quality heightens engagement and enjoyment, unlocking better fitness and skill and, ultimately, higher performance.

What can we do to improve athletes’ training and practice? 

Please share your thoughts in the comments.

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The First Lap Coaching:

Are you interested in increasing the quality of athletes’ participation for individual and community health and sport development? We are re-thinking how we design and deliver sports programs to build community and engage athletes.

Ready to elevate your club’s programs and make a lasting impact on your athletes? Click kevin@canadianwintersports.com to contact Kevin today and ask for a free consultation.

Let’s work together to create engaging and effective programs that foster athlete growth, and commitment and sustain participation.

All the best,

Kevin

Kevin Shields

Master of Coaching, University of Alberta

BEd, Nipissing University

BSc (Kinesiology), University of Waterloo