Training Variables

When it comes to designing a training programme, there are a myriad of factors that must be taken into consideration.

To give you an idea of what your strength and conditioning coach looks at, here's a partial list:

• The Athletes: Age, gender, training age, growth stage, injury history, injury status, medical history, medical conditions, height, body composition (% lean mass, % fat mass), fat distribution, posture, joint stiffness, joint laxity, relative muscle strength, relative muscle length, imbalances or asymmetries in muscle strength, proficiency in fundamental movement skills, balance, co-ordination, biomechanics of basic actions...
• The Sport: Sport training for, position(s) training for, all sports played, all positions played, other activity participation, competitive season length,  off-season length, pre-season length, common injuries in that sport, work:rest ratios of sport based on position and competitive level, critical skills and attributes separating elite from sub-elite athletes in that sport...
• The Schedules: Practices, meetings, film study, exhibition games, tournaments, league games/matches/meets, playoffs, camps/combines, academic, work...

Based on this background information a programme can be designed by manipulating the following variables to achieve the desired outcomes given where the athlete is, where they need to be, and how much time they have to get there.

• Training frequency
• Training times
• Duration of workouts
• Number of exercises
• Types of equipment
• Training location (surface)
• Exercises
• Movements
• Drills
• Split structure
• Work to rest ratios
• Type of overload
• Relative and absolute resistance loads
• Relative and absolute assistance loads
• Number of sets
• Set structure
• Number of repetitions
• Contraction type
• Pace and rhythm
• Exercise order
• Exercise progression
• Load progression
• Volume progression

Since each of these variables can have at least 3 values, (many are actually unlimited) a mathematician would say there are at least 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 different training programmes possible. 

And all this just covers the W5 (who, what, when, where, why) of a training plan.  The HOW, which is is arguably the most important part, comes down to the skills of the the strength and conditioning specialist working with the athlete.  His/her understanding and expertise of functional anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, and motor control and learning, is needed for safety and success.  Combined with his/her ability to observe, teach, monitor, explain, adapt, and motivate it what makes them a strength and conditioning coach and indispensable to an athletes succeeding at the next level.