Customer Reviews

Periodization-5th Edition: Theory and Methodology of Training

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Before you get this book, keep in mind that this was written by an extremely smart individual for other smart individuals. If you want to build a program for your athlete(s) or for yourself but don't know where to start, you should get Periodization Training For Sports. That is still written by Dr. Bompa but is translated by a writer, so it's much easier to read and understand. If you know how to build a program, and want to know the science behind it, then this is for you. I have spoken to many bright individuals in the field of Exercise and Sports Performance who were overwhelmed by this book. It has priceless information, but just realize who the target audience is before you purchase this book.

This book is more geared towards coaches, especially those who coach elite athletes. If you are not a coach or an elite athlete (or aspire to be) then this book is probably not for you. It is overly wordy and technical, and the author tends to go off on random tangents frequently. That said, there are also some very valuable nuggets of information in this book that will enhance anyone's level of knowledge. I bought this book in the hopes that I would be able to build a periodized weightlifting routine, but after reading it I am no closer to being able to do that. I don't really think I'd want to go to the trouble anyway after reading this book, because I am not an aspiring elite bodybuilder. If you are just an average person looking for ways to improve your training there are a lot of great ideas in this book that may spark your own creativity, but don't expect specific detailed training regimes or specialized exercise plans from this book. And you really need above average intelligence and desire to discern what the author is trying to convey.

15 years ago I was a high performance kayaker. I did not understand all those complicated workouts then ... Recently (3 years ago) I started kayaking seriously again and won age group competitions at all levels accross North America.

Periodization is what produces results. It is based on science which combined with expertise and experience will yield results. I have been watching the development teams and now involved in workout design. This book provides a clear description of the general issues and lets you peek into the specifics. Of course, you cannot just coach by reading a book. But if you are a coach or an athlete with serious experince, this book is going to make a lot of sense to you.

This is the classic text, that coaches and trainers have used for many many years. This is not for the casual fitness enthusiast. Great book, extremely thorough and detailed.

This is a very thorough book about periodization. I don't recommend it to someone with elementary knowledge of exercise science but for the intermediate to advanced, this book is very good.

This is by far the best book I have read thus far on the subject of setting up a long term training plan and how to adjust it according to adaptive response. The book is full of study references on everything from training ages to dominate energy systems in various sports. Every strength and conditioning professional had better have this in your library!!!!!

Say you were suddenly forced by gunpoint to set up a nationwide athletics program in a foreign country. I mean a NATIONWIDE program, from local recreational leagues to top-level amateur and professional teams, to talent identification in preschools, to peaking for the Olympics. Say that the gunmen put you on a plane, which would land in about 12 hours, and they asked you what one book you could bring with you to prepare. Without any hesitation whatsoever, you should immediately select this book, PERIODIZATION by Tudor Bompa.

The amazing thing about this book is it's thouroughness and it's refusal to make any assumptions. It was written in the tone of someone who has been trained as a formal scientist (note the PhD after the author's name!) For example, the first 142 pages are in the section called "Training Theory" -- defining and discussing why athletes need to train. Seems like a no brainer, right? Athletes need to train, obviously! But although it is incredibly basic and fundamental, it is also full of hardcore ephiphanies and ghestalts. He really nails it on the head and puts it in language that you and I couldn't.

This book is perfect for someone with a kinesiology background and with a lot of patience and persistence. Deep as it may be, I felt some small portions were a little thin -- such as the Five Intensity Values for training the energy systems (a huge topic but only a few pages of description for all the 5 values), and a description of how to read the Peaking Indices at the bottom of the annual plans (is it a derivative of the curves?).

Overall, if you are interested in coaching on a worldwide level, you should seriously consider getting and reading this book. Or, if you want to tighten up on what is really going on with training, you should pick this up as well. 5 STARS!!!!

(I'd also like to add that Tudor Bompa offers a certification if you want to become a "periodizaton/planning specialist" which I'd highly recommend. I just finished it and it was a lot of work but really got me to plunge deep into the book. Also, I have heard that the next edition will come out sometime in 2008 so keep an eye out for that too.)

This book is a major source of the Classic Periodization and it's approach leads to be viewed as a very good bridge to the evolution of new paths such as non-linear Periodization

This is a book for sport scientists, strength and conditioning specialists, coaches, trainers, instructors, and athletes. But it's better geared toward professionals rather than students. As another reviewer correctly says, it's a very technical reference and not for the casual reader or the fitness seeker. It is better described as a professional text.

It teaches how to vary the intensity and volume of training to optimize the body's ability to recover and rebuild--resulting in better performance and less risk of injury.

Periodization is a form or resistance training that may be defined as strategic implementation of specific training phases.

The contents are:

Part I: Training Theory

Chapter 1: The Basis for Training

* Scope of Training
* Objectives of Training
* Classification of Skills
* Adaptation
* Supercompensation Cycle and Adaptation
* Sources of Energy
* Summary of Major Concepts

Chapter 2: Principles of Training

* Multilateral Development vs. Specialization
* Individualization
* Developing the Training Model
* Load Progression
* Sequencing Training Load
* Summary of Major Concepts

Chapter 3: Preparation for Training

* Physical Training
* Exercise for Physical Training
* Technical Training
* Tactical Training
* Theoretical Training
* Summary of Major Concepts

Chapter 4: Variables of Training

* Volume
* Intensity
* Relationship between Volume and Intensity
* Density
* Complexity
* Index of Overall Demand
* Summary of Major Concepts

Chapter 5: Rest and Recovery

* Fatigue and Overtraining
* Recovery Theory
* Recovery Modalities
* Summary of Major Concepts

Part II: Periodization Training

Chapter 6: The Annual Training Plan

* Periodization
* Periodization of Biomotor Abilities
* Periodization of Strength Training
* Periodization of Endurance
* Periodization of Speed
* Integrated Periodization
* Annual Training Plan Phases and Characteristics
* Chart of the Annual Training Plan
* Criteria for Compiling an Annual Plan
* Summary of Major Concepts

Chapter 7: Peaking for Competition

* Peaking
* Defining a Taper
* Competition Phase of the Annual Plan
* Summary of Major Concepts

Chapter 8: Training Cycles

* Microcycle
* Macrocycle
* Summary of Major Concepts

Chapter 9: Workout Planning

* Importance of Planning
* Planning Requirements
* Types of Training Plans
* Training Session
* Daily Cycle of Athletic Training
* Modeling the Training Session Plan
* Summary of Major Concepts

Part III: Training Methods

Chapter 10: Strength and Power Development

* Biomotor Abilities
* Strength
* Methodology of Strength Training
* Manipulation of Training Variables
* Implementation of a Strength Training Regimen
* Summary of Major Concepts

Chapter 11: Endurance Training

* Classification of Endurance
* Factors Affecting Aerobic Endurance Performance
* Factors Affecting Anaerobic Endurance Performance
* Methodology for Developing Endurance
* Methodology for Developing High Intensity Exercise Endurance
* Summary of Major Concepts

Chapter 12: Speed and Agility Training

* Speed Training
* Agility Training
* Program Design
* Summary of Major Concepts

Recommended for the professional.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

If you are a coach or serious athlete in any sport requiring sprint or endurance capability, this book is a must.