Tapering and Peaking for Optimal Performance provides an in-depth discussion of the science, strategy and programme design of the tapering phase of training. This book, the first ever dedicated to this subject, presents current scientific data on tapering, its physiological and psychological effects, and the relationship of these effects to athletic performance. Presenting various training models and experience-based knowledge, this book enables readers to design optimal tapering programmes for each athlete.
Although most coaches and sports scientists are aware of the fundamental role of tapering in preparation for competition, many training programmes are developed through a process of trial and error, which often prevents athletes from achieving optimal performance. In Tapering and Peaking for Optimal Performance present various models and explain the latest scientific data on tapering and its effects on physiological and psychological factors that promote or hinder performance. Using this information, coaches, athletes and sports scientists can:
Parts I and II of the text provide the academic reader with a clear understanding of the fundamentals, characteristics and physiological and psychological changes associated with tuning. Readers will explore the performance implications of tapering, examine tuning through mathematical modelling, and learn the specifics of tuning for team sports. Special features with clear explanations of the scientific data and performance information are provided to help readers —even those without a strong scientific background— to understand the theoretical concepts presented in the text. A glossary also helps readers define terms quickly, and summary sections in each chapter provide a quick reference and review of the content.
In Part III of the book, 16 internationally renowned coaches and athletes share the tapering strategies that enabled them to succeed in major international competitions. Readers will find sport-specific strategies for individual endurance sports, sprint and power events, precision sports, and team sports. By combining knowledge based on the experience of elite athletes and coaches with the performance data presented in Parts I and II, athletes, coaches and students will learn how to create optimal tapering programmes for each sport.
Tapering and Peaking for Optimal Performance is a powerful tool for athletes, coaches and sports scientists to approach the important period of tapering a training programme with greater confidence. Combining the most current scientific research with real-world examples, this text presents the most comprehensive look at tapering available, and encourages further study on this vital and sometimes elusive aspect of training for success.
