From Coach: How to “Program”
“Periodization,” defined as: the systematic planning of athletic or physical training. The aim is to reach the best possible performance in the most important competition of the year. It involves progressive cycling of various aspects of a training program during a specific period. Conditioning programs can use periodization to break up the training program into the off-season, preseason, inseason, and the postseason. Periodization divides the year round condition program into phases of training which focus on different goals. [Wikipedia: “sports periodization”]
Sailors and coaches must carefully consider which skills they’ll train, and in what order they’ll train them as they attempt to master the sport. Those planning efforts, i.e., 'periodization,' demand an optimized schedule, allocating the necessary training time while mitigating the risk of excessive fatigue. They should create a linear learning pathway, where topics build sequentially on each other, and the formation of bad habits and unnecessary duplication of efforts are both prevented. They should structure an optimal training-to-competition ratio, accounting for developmental needs. Such skilled planning and scheduling is strictly necessary for maximizing the improvement yielded from the time we invest in training.
Coming off the recent 2022 29er Open Worlds, Phil and I have deliberated at great length regarding our returning 29er sailors' most pressing needs, and how best to accelerate the learning process for sailors newly joining the 2NINER family this fall. The 2NINER 2022-2023 calendar is structured specifically to achieve those objectives.
Fall 2022 2NINER Calendar of training dates, clinics, and regattas.
Our year starts with a significant training phase, allowing new teams to quickly learn basic skiff technique, while veteran pairs enjoy dedicated time to improve the fundamentals most deserving of additional attention, as revealed to us at Worlds. Our initial test of progress is the Skiff Gen 1 Regatta, concluding the month of October. Thereafter, our schedule takes on a monthly rhythm - generally, three training weekends succeeded by monthly test events including ODP, Orange Bowl, Skiff Gen 2, and finally culminating with the winter's peak event, 29er Midwinters East. Our schedule enables us to attack the highest-yield skill areas with significant, immersive training before retesting at the next monthly event. That 'block' structure enhances retention of improvements achieved in training, and builds in organic opportunities to update/adjust our agenda as the season progresses.
Of special note are training weekends coinciding with SAISA South Points high school sailing regattas. Many of the program's sailors are involved with their high school's sailing teams, and compete at those periodic Saturday events, some of which require significant travel. Acknowledging that 2NINER program attendance historically decreases on those weekends, we have identified them as good opportunities to either step away and rest (if necessary), get ahead on school work, or to attack fundamentals in a reduced sailor-to-coach ratio training environment.
Our most experienced 29er sailors require large, highly-skilled practice fleets to optimally train strategy and tactics, some of the sport's most important skills. Accordingly, we should do whatever we can to drive program attendance as high as possible on non-high school sailing training weekends. Rescheduling any movable commitment that might take you away from practice during those specific weekends will help us create the most productive training environment. For us to achieve our ambitions, such efforts must be expected.
I look forward to the coming fall with great anticipation - a deep, extremely competitive returning squad of veteran 29er sailors, augmented by several new skiff sailors, full of promise.
Truly yours,
Fred
