PM

DESIGNING A CONDITIONING PROGRAM

Often the biggest problem facing an individual, team or club is where to start when developing a conditioning program. Your first step should be to consult a professional such as PM. It is very important to do so because these organisations are continually absorbing and dissecting all the conditioning information to ensure your program is designed effectively to suit your needs. Furthermore, they should have experience in designing,  implementing,  supervising, monitoring and evaluating conditioning programs.

GETTING STARTED

Poorly designed conditioning programs are the result of inadequate planning. It is important to plan properly if you expect to ensure the best possible improvements in performance. Remember the key to the program should be the progressive increase in the imposed demand (i.e. the stress / load) to ensure continual improvements. All year round conditioning ensures the athlete divides enough time for heavy and light training as well as periods of rest to ensure adequate recovery so as to prevent over training. PM follows a 6 phase program when developing, implementing and evaluating programs. The following is a brief overview of the 6 Phases PM follows and examples of what areas PM focuses on.

PHASE ONE: Prescreening

• What are the goals of the Client i.e. Increase in speed and agility?

• What Sport Does the Client Participate in?

• What is the injury history of the Client?

PHASE TWO: Evaluation: (Testing Battery)

• Developing and administering the testing battery i.e. What are we evaluating?

• What are the Clients Strengths and Weaknesses?

PHASE THREE: Designing the Program

• What were the clients weaknesses, strengths, goals and the essential sport components?

• Is the client in Off season, Pre-season or In-season?  

• How much time has the client set aside for training?

PHASE FOUR: Implementing the Comprehensive Program

• Explaining and demonstrating the program ensuring both a complete understanding and the use of correct technique?

PHASE FIVE: Monitoring and Evaluating the Program

• Monitoring the clients progress.

• Evaluating the success of the program.

PHASE SIX: Modifying and Updating the Program

• Modifying the program to accommodate the adaptations by the client

• Removing sections that may not be working effectively

• Updating the program with new information