About this course: In this course you will learn how to design the type of training that takes advantage of the plastic nature of the athlete’s body so you mold the right phenotype for a sport. We explore ways the muscular system can be designed to generate higher force and power and the type of training needed to mold the athlete's physical capacity so it meets the energy and biochemical demands of the sport. We also examine the cost of plasticity when it is carried beyond the ability of the body to adjust itself to meet the imposed training stresses. The cost of overextending plasticity comes in the form injuries and chronic fatigue. In essence, a coach can push the athlete’s body too far and it can fail. Upon completion of this course you will be able to assemble a scientifically sound annual training plan.
Who is this class for: This course is designed for students who have completed The science of training young athletes: Part 1, or for those who have some exercise physiology background.
Created by: University of Florida
Taught by: Dr. Chris Brooks, Instructor
Coaching Science Coordinator for USA Track and Field
| Level | Intermediate |
| Commitment | This course is five weeks long with an estimated 3 - 4 hours per week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Training Science
In the first topic you are introduced to the fundamentals of training science. This knowledge underlies your ability to design the type of training that will most effectively improve an athlete’s performance. Essential concepts such as homeostasis, core training principles, magnitude and timing of the training stimulus, and periodization theory are all discussed.
33 videos
- Video: Course Introduction
- Video: Intro to Training Science
- Video: The Planning Process
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Growth Versus Training
- Video: Homeostasis
- Video: Short Versus Long Term
- Video: Endocrine System and Homeostasis
- Video: General Adaptation Syndrome
- Video: GAS applied to training: Homeostatic Parameters
- Video: Key Points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Individualization
- Video: Specificity
- Video: Progression and Overload
- Video: Reversibility
- Video: Variability
- Video: Applications
- Video: Key Points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Terminology
- Video: Categories of Physiological Responses
- Video: Optimal Stimulus Timing
- Video: Before Super Compensation
- Video: Variables
- Video: Measuring Intensity
- Video: Key Points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Applying GAS to Sports Training
- Video: Periodization Background
- Video: Periodized Training Plan
- Video: Load and Recovery Patterns
- Video: Key Points
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on what you learned during week 1
Graded: Biology of Adaptation
Graded: Core Training Principles
Graded: Training Stimulus
Graded: Periodization theory
WEEK 2
Sport specific strength and power
Training an athlete’s strength and power so it improves their sport performance is a challenging aspect of coaching. Here is the important knowledge you must have:
First, you must understand the important terminology such as strength, torque, work and power.
Second, you must be able to apply the principle of specificity and transfer of training effects to the athlete’s strength and power development.
Third, you must know what peripheral structural adaptations and central adaptations you are trying to accomplish.
35 videos
- Video: Overview of this module
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Components
- Video: Terminology
- Video: Measurement
- Video: Muscle Action
- Video: Transfer of Strength and Power
- Video: Training Prescription
- Video: Key Points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Two Approaches
- Video: Relevant Muscle Groups
- Video: Movement Time and RFD
- Video: Type of Resistance
- Video: Movement Velocity
- Video: Force-Posture Interaction
- Video: Movement Direction
- Video: Estimating Rate of Force Development
- Video: Key Points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Muscle Structure Adaptations
- Video: How a Muscle Hypertrophies
- Video: Types of Muscle Fiber Hypertrophy
- Video: Stimulus for Muscle Hypertrophy
- Video: Fiber Type Hypertrophy
- Video: Absolute Versus Relative Strength
- Video: Physics of Strength and Weight
- Video: Key Points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Inter-Muscular Coordination
- Video: Motor Unit Classification
- Video: Control of Muscle Force
- Video: Back to Inter-Muscular Coordination
- Video: Key Points
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on what you learned during week 2
- Video: Visit a Modern Sports Performance Lab
Graded: Strength and power basic concepts
Graded: Application of specificity
Graded: Peripheral structure adaptations
Graded: Central strength adaptations
WEEK 3
Acute fatigue during training and competition
Fatigue is a phenomenon we all experience. It is characterized by tiredness and the desire to rest. Whether the athlete likes it or not, fatigue serves a protective function. It is both cognitive and physical in nature. In this topic you are introduced to the science of acute fatigue due to training and competition. With rest, acute fatigue dissipates and the body becomes stronger. You will learn about important fatigue theories, and the factors believed to contribute to fatigue such as low fuel supplies, acidity and body temperature.
33 videos
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Definition of Fatigue
- Video: Field Influence
- Video: Cardiovascular Limitations
- Video: Energy Supply/Energy Depletion Model
- Video: Neuromuscular Fatigue Model
- Video: Muscle Trauma Model
- Video: Biomechanics Model
- Video: Thermoregulatory Model
- Video: Psychobiological Model
- Video: Central Governor Model
- Video: Key Points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: PCR and Glycogen Use
- Video: Derivation of ATP
- Video: Changes During Recovery
- Video: Effect of Recovery
- Video: Single Bout Sprinting
- Video: Multiple Bout Sprinting
- Video: Recovery Rate Factors
- Video: Key Points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Key Points To Recall
- Video: Fiber Type and Lactate
- Video: How Blood Becomes Acidic
- Video: Lactate Transport Mechanism
- Video: Key Points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Control Mechanisms
- Video: Heat Adaptation
- Video: Training Safely
- Video: Exposure to Cold
- Video: Key Points
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on what you learned during week 3
Graded: Fatigue theories
Graded: Fatigue due to low fuel supplies
Graded: Fatigue due to acidity
Graded: Fatigue due to temperature
WEEK 4
Chronic Fatigue Due to Overtraining
When an athlete is underperforming, and you don’t know why, suspect chronic fatigue due to overtraining as the prime contributing factor. Unfortunately, because we don’t fully understand chronic fatigue our knowledge about overtraining remains scant. Hans Selye’s General Adaptation framework suggests it is likely due to too much training and insufficient recovery that leads to a prolonged maladaptation of physiological systems and structures. In this module you are provided insight into chronic fatigue and its relationship to overtraining.
43 videos
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Anatomical parts
- Video: Hormone action
- Video: Hormone categories
- Video: How hormones works
- Video: Testosterone
- Video: Human growth hormone
- Video: Training effect on human growth hormone
- Video: Key points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Nervous system components
- Video: Dual innervation
- Video: Reciprocal effect
- Video: The vagus nerve
- Video: Heart control evolution
- Video: How the engine works
- Video: Respiratory sinus arrhythmia
- Video: Key points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Training continuum
- Video: Different perspective
- Video: Symptoms
- Video: Self-monitoring questions
- Video: Neurological overtraining
- Video: Overtraining the heart
- Video: Overtraining the musculoskeletal system
- Video: Concluding comments
- Video: Key points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: When low heart rate makes no sense
- Video: Stress and stress response
- Video: Effect of fatigue on heart rate
- Video: Sympathetic overtraining
- Video: How the sympathetic nervous system fatigues
- Video: Parasympathetic overtraining
- Video: Things you can do
- Video: Key points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Measuring heart rate
- Video: Heart rate variability
- Video: Ask questions
- Video: Summary comments
- Video: Key points
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on what you learned during week 4
Graded: Endocrine system basics
Graded: Autonomic nervous system
Graded: Fundamentals of overtraining
Graded: Heart rate and overtraining
Graded: Monitoring overtraining states
WEEK 5
Preparing the athlete for competition
The final topic examines how to organize an athlete’s training so it ensures peak performance. We begin by discussing how to manage the various training effects resulting from a training session. Then we explore methods you can use to quantify training loads and how to taper those loads before a major competition. Finally, you will learn about thinking behind assembling an annual training plan
20 videos
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Generalized training effect
- Video: Residual training effects
- Video: The Problem with Super Compensation Theory
- Video: Fitness-fatigue theory
- Video: Key points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Quantifying Training Loads
- Video: TRaining IMPulse TRIMP
- Video: TRIMP Zone Method
- Video: Tapering Fundamentals
- Video: Taper Types
- Video: Key points
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Preliminary background
- Video: Step 1: Season and competition dates
- Video: Step 2: Establish training blocks
- Video: Step 3: Training content categories
- Video: Step 4: Add training content
- Video: Key points
- Discussion Prompt: Reflect on what you learned during week 5
Graded: Managing training effects
Graded: Tapering and training load
Graded: Annual training plan
Graded: Peer Review Assignment
FAQs
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Pricing
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
Again as it was the first edition, this second part of The Sciene of Training Young Athletes has been amazing. A must-know knowledge for every coach in every sport. This second edition is even more specific and focus on practical training issues. Doubtless I will repeat any new edition. It would be very interesting a lesson-module focus on nutritional aspects and advices! Thanks a lot for such a wonderful organization.
The course is very informative - what I wanted was to gain a basic understanding of coaching/training so as to better understand the details of exercising. Instead of looking on various sources on internet with questionable reliability I chose to complete this course. I have also completed Part 1 which I highly recommend.
great course!
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LB
The very very good course. The great teacher. Bravo