Training level and intensity
Training and competition are generally beneficial for the development of young people in sport. However, their health and well-being can be adversely affected by too much or too little training.
The coach has an important role in preventing negative outcomes such as injury and illness through careful planning, conduct and evaluation of programs. Intense training and competition are linked with frequent illness, mainly viral upper respiratory tract infection (URTI).
Immune function is suppressed for several hours immediately after a single intense session and for weeks or months during periods of very intense training. Over-training and over-competing can result in serious outcomes such as injury, illness, negative psychological effects, and burnout.
Causes include:
- high physical workloads with insufficient recovery
- rapid increases in training frequency, intensity and duration
- inconsistent training loads
- competing too frequently
- too much repetitive practice
- emotional abuse/bullying
- no breaks between seasons.
Prevention requires planning a training schedule that controls the amount of stress placed on the young person by:
- gradually increasing training loads
- planning adequate recovery and variety
- carefully monitoring the effect of training
- reducing work loads when warning signs emerge.
Young people must be carefully monitored because in comparison to adults, they do not have good sensitivity to warning signs and symptoms (e.g. fatigue, muscle soreness, headaches, mood changes) the opportunity or skills to interact with the people who could alter their training and recovery program (e.g. coaches, sports science and medicine specialists).
Monitoring to prevent negative outcomes requires an individual, sport-specific approach.
In general, the younger and less experienced the young person, the less intense, less frequent, and shorter the duration of training/practice and competition more rest time is required within and between sessions.
Further Information
Junior Sport Framework – Guideline 3, Growth and maturation; Guideline 4, Sport pathways; Guideline 8, Making sport safe
