Special Olympics Football Coaches Quick Start Guide Training Principles Summary Law of Overload • Body adapts to training loads—explains how training works • • Adequate training loads improve overall fitness and increase performance Factors impacting training load: frequency, duration and intensity Law of Reversibility • Training loads that increase progressively create higher fitness levels • • No increase in fitness will occur if loading is too far apart or stays the same Over-training or incomplete adaptation occurs when training loads are too great or too close Law of Specificity • Specific training load produces specific response and adaptations • • General training prepares athletes for specific training Greater the volume of general training, greater the capacity for specific training Principle of Individualism • Athletes bring their unique talent, capabilities and capacities to training • • Heredity determines many physiological factors that impact training Chronological, biological and training ages must be considered when designing a training and competition plan Principle of Variety • Training is a long-term process, and loading and recovery can become boring • • Make it fun for the athlete Be creative Principle of Active Involvement • Athlete has to want to actively and willingly participate in his/her training program • • Athlete has to be committed All aspects of an athlete’s life contributes to his/her athletic success 10 Football Quick Start Guide – September 2004