During my
workshop, some of the athletes asked me about what kind of training program a
triple jumper must have in preparation for The Olympics. A professional athlete
has to have a training program for a term of four years in preparation for the
Olympics, and if he has a good coach, the coach has to be prepared to do that. It is crazy that most of them want to start
training for the Olympics only one year before they start of the games.
Here I
want to write about a numbers of factors which any coach can use to make a
training program for any athlete, bearing in mind that a good training program has
to be made for each athlete according his quality and ability.
When we
analyze the specific needs for triple jump we have to take into account a
number of factors:
- Analysis
of the movement and gesture of the triple jump, knowing the movement patterns
needed for the triple jumper, and the involvement of different muscles and
muscle groups. With this analysis we can define what type of training will
raise and work with muscle groups.
- Analysis
of the relationship between strength, power and muscular endurance. The results
of this analysis are indicative of the base from a physiological point of view
and fitness.
- Analysis
of the history of injuries and diseases.
Along with
the needs analysis we must make an assessment of the training status of the
athlete and his physical level, with the aim of collecting the data necessary
to know "where we started." Points to evaluate are:
- Experience
in training, analysis of coordination, rhythm, speed jumps and speed, to assess
the important technical jumps knowledge and experience in conducting exercises
and ability to execute.
- The duration
of Pre-Training, the sports history and quality, and the level of intensity and
development.
- The
existence of "cross training", that is, if you perform other physical
activities (both sports and everyday life), and the possible of positive or
negative synergy.
This
analysis is completed by the application of physical tests, to objectively know
through reliable data that allows us to propose a training program with a solid
foundation. These data will assess the development of training and compliance
goals through training methods that can set objectives over a long period of time.
Triple jump is a hard discipline; therefore
the athlete has to train at least 5 days a week, but rest plays a very
important part. If you are an athlete with a good technique, the training level
will be easier, so you train more for quality than quantity. i.e. you can train
4 days a week with 2 days’ rest, but this also depends of the quality of the
athlete.
A coach with
experience and triple jump knowledge is the only person capable to make that
kind of training for you, but when you have to reach the 17m+, your coach has
to have a lot of experience, knowledge and be an improviser in the field, able
to recognize any error committed by an athlete during training or competition.
