Question

Explain in detail the principle of recovery in sports training.

Answer 1

Sports training is based on certain principles.

1. Individuality - According to the individuality principle, people respond differently to a given training stimulus. This difference might occur due to previous training, genetic makeup, maturity, nutrition, prior training, environment, sleep, rest, stress, illness or injury, and motivation. The training schedule of an elite athlete may not yield the same effect on an aspiring athlete. The results may fall far short of the desired outcome. This variation in the results is quite likely due to the difference in the physiological and psychological built of the individuals.
2. Specificity - Training programmes are made to meet the demands of the sport, the position played, and the individual needs and capabilities of the athlete. To develop a particular fitness component, one must perform exercises designed specifically for that component. This is the principle of specificity. Specificity may be described as an issue of transfer of training. The closer the training movements parallel the kinds of physical activity one is training for, the more effective the influence of training on performance.
3. Progression - For both physical and performance improvements to take place, training should become increasingly difficult and regular. As physical and performance adaptations occur, the performer needs to make further demands on the body and work harder than normal. He should build strong muscular endurance enough to finish the distance. Loading must continue to increase gradually as adaptation occurs. Otherwise, the training effect will plateau, and further improvement will not be attained. The body adapts to the demands of exercise by improving its functioning.
4. Overload - To increase strength and endurance, a learner needs to add new resistance, time, or intensity to his efforts. To run a 10 kilometre race, an athlete needs to build up distance over repeated sessions in a reasonable manner. This helps to improve muscle adaptation as well as enhances soft tissue strength or resiliency. Any demanding exercise attempted too soon might, risk heavy injury. The same principle holds true for strength and power exercises. An athlete has to be exposed to an overload stimulus at regular intervals for the induction of training adaptations.