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Position Statement

• Each periodisation phase is essential when planning a training year. Each phase has a distinct purpose: developing, maintaining or restoring the athlete’s physical and psychological capacities so they peak for competition without overtraining.

Pre-Season Foundation Building

• The pre-season phase builds the fitness base and fundamental skills that the competition phase depends on.
• A rugby team’s pre-season might run 12–16 weeks. It begins with high-volume aerobic conditioning and general strength work, then progresses to higher-intensity, game-specific training such as repeated sprints and contact drills.
• This progression is justified by the principle of progressive overload. Gradual increases in training load allow the body to adapt safely, building cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and technical competence.
• Skipping or shortening this phase leaves athletes underprepared for competition loads, which increases injury risk and leads to poor early-season performance.
• This shows that pre-season is the foundation on which every later phase depends.

In-Season Performance Maintenance

• In-season training maintains the fitness gained in pre-season while managing fatigue from regular competition.
• The principle of reversibility justifies this phase: if training stops, fitness adaptations begin to decline within weeks. Maintenance training is therefore needed to keep the athlete competitive across the season.
• Training volume is reduced while intensity stays high. For example, a basketball player maintains strength with two shorter sessions per week and spends more time on tactical preparation and recovery between games.
• Peaking and tapering are planned within this phase so that athletes reach their best condition for finals or major events.
• This shows that in-season planning balances training stress against competition stress, which keeps performance consistent when it matters most.

Off-Season Recovery Integration

• The off-season gives athletes time for physical and mental recovery after the demands of competition, which reduces the risk of burnout.
• Active rest and cross-training, such as swimming or cycling for a rugby player, maintain a base level of fitness. This limits detraining, so the next pre-season does not start from scratch.
• This phase also allows full rehabilitation of injuries and lets the athlete work on weaknesses identified during the season.
• This shows that the off-season is a deliberate part of the plan, not a break from it.

Reinforcement

• Each periodisation phase is justified because it addresses a specific physiological and psychological need at the right point in the year.
• Together, the phases follow the principles of progressive overload, reversibility and specificity. This lets athletes peak for competition while avoiding overtraining and injury.