In one of the other threads the topic of season planning was brought up. In one of the coaching courses I took they covered season planning with respect to learning the fundamentals, and I can envision a season plan for an individual, but how to create a team season plan is still somewhat of a mystery for me when I think about the diversity of experience levels and stroke and distance variations and the other factors that can vary widely on a diverse masters team.
Are there good resources available somewhere that would lead an inexperienced masters coach through planning out a season?
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Are there good resources available somewhere that would lead an inexperienced masters coach through planning out a season?
Hell yes.
Theory and Methodology of Training, by Tudor O. Bompa (another proud Canadian professor).
Principle of planning aren't that complex. It involves knowing in advance, what every single week (microcycle) of the season will be made of, before the first session.
It should go down to the finest grain possible in term of level of details. Minimally, it includes:
- Volume performed at each intensity level (probably expressed in term of minutes or hours)
- Technical abilities learning
- Dryland matters (including gym, deck etc)
To me, the bible remains Bompa's works.
As for the differences between planning for a squad compared to planning for a single individual. I'd say that you may want to create a few different plans (sprinters, mid/distance/triathletes) and treat every of these as if it was one swimmer. The rest, it's more lanes management and it is not part of the yearly plan per se, or so it has never been part of mine.
Are there good resources available somewhere that would lead an inexperienced masters coach through planning out a season?
Hell yes.
Theory and Methodology of Training, by Tudor O. Bompa (another proud Canadian professor).
Principle of planning aren't that complex. It involves knowing in advance, what every single week (microcycle) of the season will be made of, before the first session.
It should go down to the finest grain possible in term of level of details. Minimally, it includes:
- Volume performed at each intensity level (probably expressed in term of minutes or hours)
- Technical abilities learning
- Dryland matters (including gym, deck etc)
To me, the bible remains Bompa's works.
As for the differences between planning for a squad compared to planning for a single individual. I'd say that you may want to create a few different plans (sprinters, mid/distance/triathletes) and treat every of these as if it was one swimmer. The rest, it's more lanes management and it is not part of the yearly plan per se, or so it has never been part of mine.
