The reply lies in residual fatigue. Because the amassed fatigue from the frequency section dissipates, the athlete’s true capability for depth emerges. The bigger acute drops attainable throughout this section replicate not higher fatigue, however relatively higher entry to the athlete’s enhanced capability developed throughout accumulation.
Consider it like eradicating sandbags from a scorching air balloon. The amassed fatigue from the frequency section acts like sandbags, limiting how excessive (intense) we are able to go. As this residual fatigue dissipates in the course of the intensification section, we are able to entry larger absolute intensities although every session creates extra acute fatigue.
Concurrent Linear Periodization
Newbies profit uniquely from coaching with a full spectrum of implements, from very gentle to very heavy balls. Whereas this may appear counterintuitive — wouldn’t or not it’s easier to grasp one implement first? — there are a number of key the reason why concurrent coaching accelerates improvement in novice throwers.
First, novices haven’t but developed secure attractor states or drive utility methods. By exposing them to totally different implements early, we assist them uncover and discover numerous methods of producing drive. Heavy implements educate them the significance of sustaining positions and enjoyable into throws, whereas gentle implements assist them perceive sequencing and the function of pace in drive manufacturing. This diverse publicity prevents them from turning into overly reliant on a single technique.
Consider it like studying a brand new language — younger youngsters usually decide up a number of languages concurrently extra simply than adults studying sequentially. Their neural techniques are extra plastic and adaptable, permitting them to internalize totally different patterns in parallel. Equally, novice athletes can extra readily develop a number of throwing qualities concurrently earlier than motion patterns turn into deeply ingrained.
Moreover, novices usually reply positively to any correct coaching stimulus — a phenomenon usually known as “newbie good points.” Their our bodies are primed to adapt to new stresses, permitting them to enhance throughout a number of bodily qualities without delay. A pitcher who has by no means skilled systematically earlier than would possibly concurrently:
- Develop higher positional energy with heavy implements
- Enhance mechanics and sequencing with normal balls
- Improve fee of drive improvement with lighter implements
Novice athletes have important headroom for enchancment throughout all bodily qualities, making concurrent improvement each attainable and useful. Analysis has proven that “the advance of comparatively decrease athletic skills doesn’t require extremely concentrated coaching workloads” (Issurin & Yessis, 2008). This permits coaches to develop a broad base of bodily capabilities and motion competencies that may assist future specialization. It’s why throwing packages must be structured otherwise for faculty freshmen versus elite pitchers.
Nonetheless, this concurrent method turns into much less efficient as athletes advance. Extra skilled athletes have already harvested their “newbie good points” and require extra targeted stimulus to proceed progressing. Their neuromuscular techniques have tailored to basic coaching stress, necessitating extra particular overload to drive additional adaptation. That is when transitioning to vertical integration, with its emphasis on creating particular qualities whereas sustaining others, turns into essential for continued improvement.
Understanding this development — from concurrent improvement in novices to extra targeted coaching in superior athletes — helps coaches construction long-term athlete improvement extra successfully. It explains why seemingly complicated coaching with a number of implements can speed up studying in novices, whereas additionally clarifying when and why coaching emphasis must turn into extra specialised as athletes advance.
Vertical Integration
Whereas concurrent linear periodization permits athletes to develop a number of bodily qualities concurrently, this method has limitations — significantly for extra superior athletes who’ve moved past newbie good points.
That is the place vertical integration, also referred to as conjugate periodization, supplies a vital framework for superior improvement. This method acknowledges that important variations in drive manufacturing capabilities — each peak drive and drive length — require targeted, sequential coaching phases relatively than concurrent improvement. As Issurin and Yessis (2008) notice, “extremely concentrated workloads for a lot of qualities can’t be managed on the identical time.” Whereas throwing velocity will depend on a number of bodily qualities, making an attempt to enhance all of them concurrently turns into ineffective for superior athletes. As a substitute, strategically emphasizing totally different qualities in sequence, whereas sustaining others via supporting work, permits for systematic improvement of each impulse peak and length traits.