There is another consideration in the distribution of general versus specific work that is the training age of the athlete. At younger training ages, particularly in the first three to five years of training the athlete’s window of adaptation is very large. Therefore it is appropriate to include more general work at this stage to give a broad range of motor skills and abilities. As the athlete advances in training age the window of adaptation becomes much smaller therefore the demand is for more specific work. At advanced training ages general work assumes the role of remedial prophylactic training or recovery regeneration type of work.
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Vern Gambetta
Director at Gambetta Sports Training Systems
Vern is the Director of Gambetta Sports Training Systems. He has been the a conditioning coach for several MLS teams as well as the conditioning consultant to the US Men's World Cup Soccer team. Vern is the former Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets. He has lectured and conducted clinics in Canada, Japan, Australia and Europe and has authored six books and over one hundred articles related to coaching and sport performance in a variety of sports. He has a BA in teaching with a coaching minor and an MA in Education with an emphasis in physical education from Stanford University.
Latest posts by Vern Gambetta (see all)
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- Training Dos & Don’ts #4: More Work or Less Work - August 30, 2022
- Training Dos & Don’ts #3: Warm-up (Preparation) & Cool-down (Reset) - August 15, 2022