In between 17–21 athletes gain strength performance of about 15 %
So, if this is a fact, then we need to get them prepared to go into this window of opportunity. So, we need two years to prepare them to be able to go into this strength window. I think it’s very important to prepare the athletes to be able to deal with these heavy, intensive strength trainings. So, the techniques, how to do the strength training, the core stability, all the angles, all the chance they need to be prepared for heavy jumps, for jumps with barbells or box jumps, for all the landings, etc.
If we take the 2 years leading into the window 15–16 and we compare that to the international tournaments and the rankings then it’s in change from the U14 tournament environment, to the U18 tournament environment. Once they become 17, they need to be ready to compete in their category. So, the development phase means that they play maybe fewer tournaments.
What sometimes happen is that players just travel around the world and lose time with weeks and traveling
So, we really have to think a lot about the schedule, the national tournaments and international tournaments in order to have enough time to develop them at the base once they become 17 and they enter this window to gain 15 percent of strength performance.
During the traveling time, either we have islands to practice at home during three or four weeks, so we can really concentrate on this period of strength training when they are at the base or here is another option whilst they travel around
They need to get opportunities to do the strength training around the globe and integrate them into the weeks. When they play tournaments if they e.g. lose a match 6–2, 6–2 the same day they can go into a gym in the city and start to practice again on the strength training. Maybe they have 4 days until the next match. So, it gives us 1, maybe 2 strength trainings.
Over the years they will have a chance to reach these 15 percent of performance. But the planning has to be very clever and organized. Clever enough to give them the opportunity of having enough strength, speed and power lessons, etc.
The race for points
The challenge for players and coaches often times becomes the race for points.
They think the more they play, the more options they have to win points. It’s true, but you can only win points if you have the level without having the level you just travel around the globe. You don’t drive up your level
So, the first discussions need to be about the level of the player. Is the player good enough to win the points and not just to travel around?
If he/she is not able to win points because his/her level is not good enough, then we need to have a break and come back to the base and we then practice again. We need to practice on certain areas and circling back to always with the thinking of building on our strength.
So, it’s not just about weaknesses. Once they reach a next level, then they can go back to the tournament and play maybe several tournaments in a row. I think then we are on the way to develop the players and they are able to win the points to reach the next level. The next step in their rankings.
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