15548 - Physical Training Theory and Methodology

Learning outcomes

Learning Outcomes:

The student will able to employ simple field tests for the evaluation of sports. Main aspect of the sports will be identifiable and trainable, according to the performance model. Will be able to identify the form and functions of muscle of the body, how the anatomy, physiology, motor control and biomechanics interact to build the performance. At the end of the course the student will be able to write an appropriate schedule for training in sport, from school children to athletes.  Abilities to understand and use graphs and tables will be acquired. The student will be able to connect principles from different basic sciences in order to have a complete picture of the training process.  The training of top performance in high level athletes is beyond the scope of this course, and will be taught in the magister. 

Course contents

Course Contents

Module 1.

Sciences and opinions.

Definitions and hystorical excursus on the concept of training and” trainingability”:  Galenus, Philostratus and Aristoteles, Vitruvio, Leonardo da Vinci and  Cartesian concepts of body  training and body theories

The “Nordic”  Natural School:  Jhan, Link and Hebert.  The moderns: Mateveev, Verchoshansky , Zatsiorsky and the Russian School. The England school and the track and field training. Concepts of “Periodization”: Macro, meso and micro-cycles.  The “doping effect”.

Definitions of load , progressivity of training loads, training stimuli. The general adaption syndrome by Seyle. Local and general GAS. Neuro-endocrine responses. Single factor and double factors theory of adaptation to the training loads. The Super-compensation principle. Interferences in the strength-endurance training: concurrent effect, antagonistic effect.

Module 2.

Taxonomy of physical activities in accord to the energy production systems: aerobic, anaerobic and mixed processes.  The 9 variables in the manipulation of the single training session.

Taxonomy of physical activities in accord to neuromuscular control: power and dexterity activities. Continuous Energy supply during the performance and ratio of substrate utilization during the performance. Time and modalities of the recovery process after the different energy storage complete or semi- exhaustion. 

Sports Taxonomy and energy supply. Training methods and link with energy supply systems. Training methods to be used in different sports.  The interval training method.

Half-duration endurance and its development. Lactate-driven training intensities.

Module 3.

Basic Physics for the understanding of training dimensions. Velocities, accelerations, forces, vectors.

Module 4.

Strength and power

The bilateral deficit and neuromuscular control of the strength output.  Angles and range of motions in the strength and power production. Wingate test, Margaria-Kalamen test, RAST test (repeated sprinting). The co-contraction and bi-articular muscle in closed chain movements.  Concepts of maximal strength according to Zatsiorsky, Harre, Kuznezov, Donskoy. The Hill's Curve.  Eccentric and concentric power and strength production. The 3D Hill Curve – tension-length-velocity. Force production and force sensing: kinaesthetic capabilities in upper and lower limbs.

Module 5. Strenght

Static and dynamic strength. Definition and markers of rapid and explosive strength output. Strength curves and introduction to dynamometry. Difference between sports in power production. Neural factors in strength production. The stretch-shortening effect.  Elastic and serial components of the muscle. Muscles and spindle reflexes activations. Neuronal adaptation: temporal and spatial effects. Jumps: squat jumps, CMSJ.  Explosive and reactive strength.

Evolution of strength by age in different sports. High and broad jumps as methods for power development.

Slow and fast fibres interplays in strength and power production. Inferences about muscle fibres contents of different muscles and athletes. Different methods of exercising for fast strength power output.

Enduring strength production and fatigue. Isometric strength, abdominal muscle strength. Isokinetic testing and inferences on muscle fibres contents and power development along the range of motion. Circuit training.

Module 6. Specific aspects of strength.

Flexors and extensor ratios, individual behaviour in strength production. Isokinetic force/velocity relationship. Strength curves and slopes.  RFD: rate of force development. Estimation of maximal strength from submaximal testing. Different kinds of dynamometers.

Module 7.

Methods of strength training. Kind of strength , execution modalities and kind of muscular tension. Isometric methods. Concentric methods. Eccentric methods. Effect of loads and emg assessment. Plyometric and mixed methods. Electro stimulation of muscle fibres in vivo.  Pros and cons of the various strength regimes. The Bulgarian system. Contrast methods. Concentric regimen of strength training and sports.

Module 8. Anatomy for strength.

The warm-up.  Lower limbs muscles and training exercise for the development of sport abilities.  Safety issues in overloads training. The feedback.   The Squat exercise: muscular actions and differences by biomechanical constrains.  Machines and strength training.

Module 9.  Upper limb anatomy and methods for strength training in the upper limb. Joints and muscle mechanics during exercises for the upper limb. The bench exercise. Upper arm and fore arm exercise.

Module 10.

Strength and hypertrophy enhancement.  Pre and post fatiguing methods. Superseries, Burning series.  Assisted methods.

Module 11.

Maximal strength theory and practice.  Classifications, loads, snatch and jerk exercises biomechanics. Gender differences in strength development and training: endogenous hormonal factors.  Strength, aging and gender issues.  Strength and bone in the developmental age. Biological age, loads on the spine.

Module 12.

Dynamometry. Hand dynamometry as general strengths marker. Trunk strength. Physiology of maximal strength production, fibres hypertrophy and neural factors interplay and methods for its stimulation in the training process. The Pyramidal method.

Module 13.

The endurance. Thresholds definitions and assessment.  Conconi test, Cooper test, Leger test and its variants. Mader test and the lactate. Step tests. Mognoni-Cerretelli test . Lactate thresholds: various methods and assessment problems.

Module 14.

The Vo2 max test : procedures and rationale. The treadmill utilization, metabolimeters and oxygen and CO2 measurement. Interplay with lactate accumulation. Procedures, ethics and safety of maximal respiratory testing.

Module 15.

Science of flexibility. Definition. Relationship with anatomy and tissue properties: water contents, compliance , stiffness. Various kind of flexibility, its trainability, its relative importance in different sports. Angles, stretching, dynamics and static methods, gender differences, hormonal factor in muscle tone regulation and muscle tone assessment. Different tests for flexibility assessment and improvement, for school sport and top performance.

Module 16.

Reactivity and rapidity.  Reaction time assessment. Stimuli-response coupling in sport.  Speed and super speed. Tapping test and rapidity tests and development. Cognition and psychological factors. Social factors.

Module 17.

Sport biomechanics: methods. Applications and example of biomechanical assessment to various sports and movements.  Biomechanical testing  and interpretation of results for the improvement of the training process. Qualitative and quantitative methods. Meaningfulness of biomechanical measurement and testing for the field: athletes and coaches feedbacks.

Module 18.

Body balance testing and developments: objective methods and some methodological issues in sport. Psychological factors.

Module 19.

Ergometry, dynamometry: Instruments and issues. Work simulators, sport simulators, assessment and technical issues. Reliability, sensitivity, precision and usage for in field assessment. Tradmills, cycloergometers, sport ergometers,  isokinetic dynamometry

Module 20.

The Motor reaction. Psychophysics of reaction times. Simple and complex reaction times. The recovery process.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Slides of the lessons.

The sofware muscle and motion, for the study of mucle mechanics is available on the following computer , in Rimini computer labs (password and username will be communicated at lessons).

greenlab: postazione 08, 09, 10

bluelab: postazione 06, 05,04, 03

Suggested readings;

Matveev L.P. The general theory of sport and the system of training athletes: a manual. / L.P. Matveev Kiev Olympic Literature, 1999. 317 p.

Platonov V.N. The general theory of training athletes in Olympic sports / V.N. Platonov. Kiev: Olympic Literature, 1997. 583 p.

L'allenamento ottimale di Jürgen Weineck, P. Bellotti e M. Gulinelli (1 gen. 2009)

Scienza e pratica dell' allenamento della forza di Valdimir M. Zatsiorsky, William J. Kraemer e A. Lombardi (1 gen. 2008)

Gymnastics: How to Create Champions : The Theory and Methodology of Training Top-Class Gymnasts di L. I. Arkaev e N. G. Suchilin (ott. 2004)

Periodization: Theory and Methodology of Training di Tudor O. Bompa e G. Gregory, Ph.D. Haff (2 lug. 2009)

Scienza e pratica dell'allenamento della forza di Valdimir M. Zatsiorsky, William J. Kraemer e A. Lombardi (1 gen. 2008)

Science And Practice of Strength Training di Vladimir M. Zatsiorsky e William J. Kraemer (30 mag. 2006)

Fondamenti dell'allenamento e dell'attività di gara. Teoria generale della preparazione degli atleti negli sport. di Vladimir N. Platonov e O. Jourchenko (1 gen. 2004),

Biochemical Monitoring of Sport Training . Atko Viru , Mehis Viru (2001)

Strength Training Anatomy di Frederic Delavier (9 mar. 2010)

Teaching methods

Teaching methods will be based on slides, and comment to slides. Due that the slides are only supports to the discussion, is extremely important to take part in classroom activities.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods:

In the assessment process the following will have a weight: presence to class activities, participation in class activities with questions, correct behavior in class (e.g.: entrance and exit before the beginning of the lessons, exit not before the end, correct relationship with peers, not chatting). A written test will be delivered at the beginning of year to assess the background knowledge of the students of the topic and their sport curriculum.  A second written test will be delivered at the half of the semester, in order to assess the acquired knowledge of the topic. The final exam will be oral colloquia of about 30 minutes aimed at exploring the student knowledge of the various part of the syllabus.  The scores will be in 30 grade points, being 18 the minimum grade and 30 cum laude the maximum grade.  Scores on the intermediate test will be on 18 questions with multiple choice answers, each accounting for 0, 50 score points. 

40 % of the grade points will be assigned as a result of the final examination = 12 points

30% of the grade point s will be assigned as a result of the intermediate test = 9 points

30% of the grade points will be assigned as a result of the participation at class activities = 9 points

For international students a table of ECTS credits conversion is provided as an annex to this syllabus.

Assessment criteria.

The final colloquium has the scope to in deep assess the knowledge of the student.  On the final exam student has to demonstrate:  appropriate language skills, knowledge of the specific topics, ability to draw and understand graphs and tables, clarity of exposition, knowledge of all the units of the syllabus. Must be able to make connection between the different parts of the syllabus, and to apply the concepts acquired to field situations. All parts of the syllabus have to be known, without any exceptions. Appropriate knowledge of the slides content will be assessed. 

Teaching tools

The lessons will be both practical than theoretical. Practical lessons will be performed in the gym or on the track field.

Frontal lesson will be delivered in the classroom by means of slides, and students participation is stongly encouraged.

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Cicchella