Principles of Fitness Training Programmes

Principles of Fitness Training Programmes

Specificity

• Specificity refers to the requirement that training should be relevant and appropriate to the sport or activity for which the individual is training.
• For instance, a runner would focus on developing their endurance while a sprinter would prioritise speed and power.

Progression

• Progression implies training intensity should be gradually increased over time to continue making gains and to avoid plateaus.
• It’s crucial to increase workload in a controlled and systematic way to avoid risk of injuries.

Overload

• Overload principle states that for improvements to occur in fitness, training demands must exceed the individual’s usual level of physical demand.
• This can be achieved by changing the frequency, intensity, time or type of training (often referred to as the FITT Principle).

Reversibility

• Reversibility means that fitness improvements are lost when demands on the body are lowered.
• If an individual stops exercising or reduces exercise frequency, their level of fitness will decrease.

Tedium (variety)

• Tedium refers to the need of variety in the training programme.
• Varying the training helps avoid boredom and helps to keep participants motivated.

Recovery

• Recovery is an essential part of any training programme because it’s during this time that the body adapts to the stress of exercise.
• A good balance between hard training and enough rest allows for optimal improvements in fitness and performance.

Remember, always tailor the training programme to the individual’s needs, abilities and goals. All these principles should be applied in harmony for the best outcomes.