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Option 4: Improving performance
How does competition affect performance
Competing athletes undergo a great deal of pressure throughout the season and many factors have the potential to affect their performance. Considerations such as the phases of competitions, dietary needs, environmental factors and psychological preparation all deserve attention.
Click on the title to investigate two of these areas.
The phases of competition is termed "periodisation" by most athletes, coaches and trainers. There are three separate phases:
pre-seasonal or the preparatory phase where general and specific preparation is achieved before the competitive season begins
in-season or the competitive phase
post-season or transition phase where recovery occurs prior to the beginning of the next preparatory phase.
Two of the main considerations for all athletes, coaches and trainers are peaking for their performance and tapering.
Environmental considerations
There are two main issues when considering environmental conditions, altitude and temperature acclimatisation. Most considerations regarding temperature relate to heat acclimatisation which is a rapid process that can be achieved in seven to ten days of training for sixty to ninety minutes in the hot or targeted conditions.
The study of the body's physiological changes required in heat or at altitude has enabled training to be modified to reach a successful performance.
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