SPORTS CONCEPT

How One Sports Concept Is Affected By Biomechanics, Psychology And Physiology?

How One Sports Concept Is Affected By Biomechanics, Psychology And Physiology? Introduction

Performance coaching is a process that can be defined as the purposeful improvement of competitive sports performance through a planned programme of preparation and competition (Lyle 1999). The process is both multifaceted and multidisciplinary. As such, it requires input in a variety of different disciplines and from a number of different specialists. When one considers the basic building blocks that are necessary for effective coaching behaviour, it becomes obvious that contributions to an athlete's development may have to be made in a wide variety of areas. Depending on the requirements of a particular sport, these may include inputs in the areas of technique (e.g. biomechanics and skill learning), physiology, psychology, nutrition, theoretical knowledge of the sport, lifestyle management (including time management) and tactics. Any contributions to the process will be complicated by the need for coaches also to address the differences between various factors. These factors include what type of sports (team sport or individual sport), whether children or adults (children should not be treated as mini-adults), and males or females (female athletes may be susceptible to disordered eating habits, amenorrhea and osteoporosis). Obviously, many contributions will need to be highly individualized and may need to be further divided into specific areas for attention such as in strength conditioning, flexibility, aerobic capacity, mental preparation, sport medicine, nutrition, practice organisation and management, and competition planning. For the last of these, the coach in some sports may even have a responsibility for entries, travel and accommodation arrangements. In most sports, laws of the sport, ethics, monitoring techniques, peaking and tapering, detraining, communication and even safe working practice (including prevention of injuries and overtraining) should also be considered. With a process of such complexity coaches need to plan, periodise and individualize the training programme with considerable care. Although coaches may not be responsible personally for providing all of the expertise in each particular area, their overall coaching role and responsibility is to plan and co-ordinate the various contributions to each and every athlete into an effective individualized strategy for enhancing competitive performance.

The relevance of individualizing training to optimise athletic performance is highlighted in the coaching theory and applied literature by reference to a number of important 'principles'. For example, the 'principle of individualization' is one of Bompa's (1999) seven principles of training and the 'principle of individuality' is one of Rushall's (1985a, 1985b) seven principles of coaching. In addition, individualization has been described as an important principle for sports coaching (Hazeldine & McNab 1998), an essential element of the coaching process (Cross 1999) and as a key concept (Lyle 1996). At least five other coaching or training 'principles' may also have relevance for individualization. First, is Howe's (1990) 'primary principle' that suggests that the coach should seek to be a facilitator rather than a director, a strategy that should highlight the idiosyncratic requirements of each and every athlete, and one which ...