Periodization is based on which principles?

Periodization is a specific approach to training that involves varying the intensity and volume of workouts over time to optimize performance and recovery. It is heavily based on the principles of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which describes how the body responds to stress. This model, proposed by Hans Selye, outlines three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

When applying these principles to training, a coach recognizes that the body initially reacts to stress (alarm), adapts to it over time (resistance), and if overemphasized without proper recovery, may lead to burnout or injury (exhaustion). By structuring training cycles that include phases of intense training followed by taper periods and recovery, coaches can help athletes build strength and endurance while minimizing the risk of overtraining, thus enhancing performance in the long term.

This foundational understanding of how the body adapts to physical stress is crucial for effective program design in a periodized training plan. Other options, while relevant to training and nutrition, do not encapsulate the core concept of periodization in the same fundamental way as General Adaptation Syndrome does.