| The last principle of fitness and training under | | | | for a second training session again in about 8-10 |
| FITT is Time. Here, we are referring to the | | | | hours. |
| duration of each training session. Having | | | | For amateur athletes, their body systems are |
| determined the frequency, intensity and type of | | | | also similarly defined as the elite professional |
| training, it is now important to ensure that the | | | | athletes. However, given that these amateurs are |
| training duration for each session maximizes peak | | | | also involved in a job of some kind on a daily |
| performance in sports. Our body systems are | | | | basis, training once a day for 2-3 hours will have |
| very delicate systems that will respond most | | | | to be enough to stimulate optimal growth for |
| under optimal stimulation. Too little training, not | | | | peak performance in sports. Work involvement |
| enough adaptation will take place. Too much | | | | can be physically draining and should not be |
| training will result in the detrimental effects of | | | | underestimated. The key thing missing for these |
| over training. Hence, the coach is very important | | | | athletes is lack of quality and quantity rest as |
| to plan for the right amount of training time for | | | | compared with a professional athlete. |
| his players for peak performance in sports. Once | | | | As for local sportsmen and school athletes, the |
| again, to decide on the time of training required, it | | | | general guideline would be training for about 2 |
| is important to consider the different kinds of | | | | hours tops. The developing body systems of |
| athletes we are dealing with. Earlier we have | | | | these young athletes are just not ready for |
| elaborated about how different athletes respond | | | | anything more. Fuel storage is less efficient, |
| to during frequency of training. We can deal with | | | | recovery is more complicated and rest is |
| the time required for training by looking at each | | | | commonly not enough. Hence, extended training |
| of these groups in place, and make the necessary | | | | beyond 2 hours can be counter productive. |
| recommendations. Let us begin. | | | | Coaches of these athletes often have the difficult |
| For professional athletes, since they are the | | | | task of reining in their eager athletes. They will |
| cream of the crop, and possessing body systems | | | | want to do more because of their enthusiasm, |
| that recovery and respond the fastest to training, | | | | but really, it is not benefiting them for peak |
| these athletes can be subjected to longer training | | | | performance in sports. |
| duration for peak performance in sports. Generally | | | | Finally, the recreational group of athletes should |
| speaking, once the energy fuel system in their | | | | not train too hard. Anything within one hour will |
| body is exhausted, any more training without fuel | | | | generally suffice to develop a healthy body. The |
| will be counter productive. The time taken for | | | | key here is to feel good from a healthy body |
| these elite athletes to reach this stage is generally | | | | with good energy levels to do more recreational |
| between 2-3 hours of training in a single session. | | | | activities after training. There is no point |
| The good thing is their systems will recover | | | | exhausting them and leaving little reserves less to |
| rapidly as well, and with good rest, stretching, | | | | do other more meaningful activities. |
| massaging and proper nutrition, they will be ready | | | | |