Sports training are the process of preparation of sportsman, based on scientific and pedagogical principles, for higher performance. 

It has become increasingly clear that in order to win medals in the Olympic or International Competitions. One must possess highly refined and rational technical skills, tactics, vast experience and definite psychological qualities. It has also become increasingly clear that these factors cannot be developed to the desired level in one or two years. A training process of minimum 8 – 10 years is necessary in order to achieve world level performances. In other words a long term training process is necessary to achieve high performances and then to further maintain those over a long period of time. On the whole, the training process can extend 12-15 years or more. 

The training process must begin at an early age because many performance factors can be best developed in early childhood, e.g. coordinative abilities, speed, flexibility (Winter, 1976). After adolescence, these factors can’t be developed to a marked degree. World level performances are more likely to be achieved in high performance age i.e. when the organism possess optimum biological pre-requisites for performing in a particular sport. Before or beyond this high performance age the performance are rarely possible. Hence, one should start the training in such an age that by the time he reaches high performance. In order to find out in what age the training should be started, one should find out the high performance age for a particular sport and then calculate how much time period is necessary to develop the various performances factors to the required level for high performance and then subtract this from the high performance age. The age which one gets after subtraction is approximately the age at which the systematic long term training in that sport should be started. 

This long-term training process is needed to improve or to gain the qualities of the sportsman. In a short it is not possible to improve all the qualities of a sportsman in a short time. The long-term training process develops the technique tactics, as well as other abilities of a sportsman. This process improves the performance and maintains the performance for a long time. 

The systematic training should be started at an early age for the development of the qualities and to achieve high performance age. 

In developing the qualities we develop the motor abilities and if we start the training at a later state the physiological changes will be less, which ultimately effect on the improvement of the standard of the performance. 

It is also good in getting high performances as our organism can give best result in the event such as in strength, sprint, Gymnastics etc. So every activity has its own type of demand. Organism, always developing and does not remain constant. But if we start training at later stage suppose at 16 years or still later on they could have not achieved as good as early age. Early age is the best possible time for getting good result, as the potentiality is much more in young age then the later age. 

These ages for the beginning of systematic training in different sports are based upon previous experiences as well as on the principles of growth and development. Lempart ( 1973 ) recommends different age for the start systematic training in different sports . High performances can also be achieved by starting systematic training in sports at an age which is much later then recommended by various expert. Bauersfeld and Schooler (1979 ) have cited such examples in tract and field . This is mostly possible in sports where the performance depends largely upon conditional abilities, i.e. strength, speed and endurance. Moreover, the person who starts systematic training late in a sport should already have a good general performance capacity in order to achieve high performance in the high performance age.

Systematic training should begin at 8 years of age . We can reduce the age and can start early . But it differs from sports to sports and individual to individual . 

DIVISION OF LONG TERM TRAINING PROCESS.

This long term training process is divided into three stages and duration is different in different games and sports . The long term training process can stretch to 12-15 years or even more . This long period is divided into three stages so that the aims, tasks and contents of training can be properly systematized . The period basis to advance are not uniform in all time . Similarly it differs from advance to high performance . The aims and contents of training change according to he development of training stage and performance . Long term training is a continuous process but the training structure goes on changing with the passage of time . 

The criteria for the classification of the long term training process is not the age because in different sports, the individual of the same age can be in different training stage . The criteria of classification is the training structure and the high performance age . 

Example 

 The beginning and duration of the training process as well as the duration of the various training stages are not uniform in all the sports . The duration of each training stage depends upon (a) Nature of sports and itsperformance structure  (b) High performance age (c) Training State of the sportsman (d) Talent of the sportsman . Generally, the training stages in sports, depending upon the technique, are shorter then those sports which depend upon conditional abilities . The sportsman who are highly talented reach the high performance training stage earlier . 

The transition from one training stage to the next depends upon the achievement of certain aims at the end of each training stage . 

BASIC TRAINING STAGE 

AIM   

(a) Create a base :-

The main aim of sports training here is to lay foundations for future achievements : to ensure a harmonious development of the athletes organism, to enhance the general level of his functional abilities, to create a rich fund of various motors skills to form the initial base of sporting skill . 

(b) High stress on Education . 

( c) Characterized by search and selection of talents . 

CHARACTERISTICS 

Training for all round development . Uniform demands on all children . Predominant use of general exercises . Much stress on Education which give them idea of idealism, beliefs, values . Social qualities, intelligence, habits and personality traits are also to be developed in this stage . Competitive training qualities are to be developed and when we develop all these qualities, we can say development of personality as a whole . Development of stable interests for training, very less formal competition i.e. multisided development. 

PHYSICAL PREPARATION 

It is divided into two groups :- 

1.           Development of conditioning abilities: 

Speed, strength, endurance and flexibility are taken under this part and all these should be developed in a complex manner . These are related with each other and inter dependent . Organs and systems are also to be improved which means development of health .  

2.          Coordinative Abilities  

Maximum stress  should be gain for the following coordinative abilities :- 

(1) Rhythmic abilities ; (2) Adoption abilities ; (3) Balance abilities ; (4) Differentiation abilities ; (5) Orientation abilities ; (6) Coupling abilities . Sometime some of the sensory organs are also to be stressed in this stage .  

TECHNIQUE

All the elementary of Basic technique are to be thought up to fine form:-  

The basic skill and technique of other sports must be taken into consideration . Technique has to be stressed in all aspect, but not in the highest degree but in optimum level .  

TECTICS 

There is controversy whether tactics should be taught or not . Elementary tactics of standard situation, information about rules and regulation are to be given more importance in this stage . 

LOAD 

On the whole load is less . Total volume is low . 4-5 training session per week with much variation in exercises and methods . 

PERIODISASTION 

It is not important factor in basic training stage as it is to be high performance . It must be systematic . More general type of training not competition oriented . Some competition to break the monotony to develop psychological performance is a side effect at this stage . For special preparation 3-4 weeks is more then enough .

ADVANCE TRAINING STAGE

Aim :  

Further development of the base. Development of related performance. 

Characteristics :  

1.     There are tremendous increase in training load as compared with previous load . In this stage volume and intensity is more increased then the basic stage .

2.     Training become more individualized and specialized . It is more and more specialized towards games /sports .

3.     To determine in which event the participant has to go or to choose the specialization .  

VARIOUS ASPECTS 

1.     Education :- Continues in the same intensity . Specific qualities are more needed in this stage . More stress on the development of specific qualities which are involved in the games . More stress in total education but oriented these aspects which are essential, needed in games .

2.     Conditioning :- Development of all motor abilities with special emphasis on the development of those motor abilities which will form the base for the future performance . The explosive strength and the speed is stressed and rest of the abilities are to be developed according to need .

3.     Coordinative abilities :- It is to be developed with faster rate .

4.     Technique :- All sorts of technique are to be taught with their variation . Technique already learnt are further refined . In games, combative sports technique is to be learnt under changing conditions .

5.     Tactics : Advanced tactics but mainly individual tactics should be taught in this stage . Team and group tactics can also be taught but with less amount . Information about rules and regulations and their exploitation in competition is to be given priority in this stage .

6.     Load :-  High load, 6-8 training session week .  

7.     Periodisation:-  We can have periodisation in this stage . The whole year is not periodised . 3-4 months before the important games / competitions are periodised before high performance stage as because the high performance stage is the competition oriented . In advance training stage the periodisation will be in form of small cycle .  

HIGH PERFORMANCE STAGE 

Aim :- Achievement of high performance and its further development and maintenance for longer period .  

Characteristics :- (1) Specialized and individualized ; (2) High amount of load and competition exercises ; (3) Competition oriented ; (4) Highly refined periodisation .  

Conditioning abilities :- The development of specific motor abilities specially through special and competition exercises . Maintenance and further development of general exercises .  

Technique :- Technique is highly automatised and highly mastered along with variations . Stress more variable applicability of skill . Aim for automatisation and stabilization . In games /competitive sports technique training is to be given along with tactical  aspect .  

Tactics :-  Group and team tactics must be taught . Tactics for a particular position for a particular competition or opponent . Combination of technique and tactics ( Technotactical training ) .  

Load :- Very high load : 8-12 training session per week or more .  

Periodisation :- The whole year training is periodised for a competition . Single and multiple periodisation .  

The stages and periods of many year training do not have strictly fixed terms . Their beginning and competition depends not only on the age , but also on the individual gift of the athlete, specifies of his development, training record and on the conditions of the organization of sports activity .  

The training process, expressed in the changes of these stages and periods, changes according to the regularities of acquiring sporting skill and further sporting perfectioning, which are biologically preconditioned by the regularities of the athletes age development .  

Reference :  1) Singh H, “ Sports Training General Theory & Method”,  
                       NSNIS, Patiala, India, 1984, PP 2-3, 394-401 .

                    2)  Matveyev L, “Fundamentals of Sports Training”, Progress  
                            Publishers, Moscow, 1981, P 289 .