Principles of training
Individuality
Players can react to the same training stimulus in a different manner; this
happens for a number of reasons. The main three causes of this are:
• Genetic - we are all made differently at birth, the limitations of your
fitness are set by your parents via the genes you inherit. If both your
parents were international class sprinters the chances are that you will
have the potential to be a good sprinter. The limitations placed upon
each aspect of fitness by your genetics varies, for instance the
improvement you can make in endurance is likely to be far greater than
that you make in speed. It is important to remember though that you are
unlikely to ever reach your genetic limits and should always strive for
improvement in all your fitness capabilities.
• Initial fitness levels - we all start at a different level of fitness, a player
whose has trained consistently in the past will lose fitness on a program
designed for someone learning how to train.
• Maturity - immature players cannot train with the same volumes or
intensities as their mature counterpart, which could be detrimental to both
their health and overall development. Even so young players can
experience huge gains in skill, speed and agility if trained correctly. As
players age they are also likely to lose fitness, some of this is due to the
ageing process and wear and tear of the game, although a great deal is
down to lack of motivation and detraining. As you age variety becomes
essential in your plan; it will help maintain enthusiasm and decrease the
likelihood of overuse injuries. Players should look to maintain a high level
of fitness beyond their playing years for the sake of quality and longevity
of life.