Table 2.
Characteristics of training programs for American football players and soccer players.
| Sport | Period |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation |
Competition | Transition | ||
| General | Special | |||
| American football | - maximum strength building, - muscle mass building, - fitness training, - technical training -tactical training No. of sessions per week: 3 × 2 h (the gym) + 1 × 3 h (the field) Period length: 10 weeks |
- endurance training (gym and playing field) - test matches No. of sessions per week: 2 × 1 h (the gym) + 2 × 2,5 (the field) Period length: 4 weeks |
- strength training with reduced volume - tactical training with speed, speed and endurance elements - plyometric exercises No. of sessions per week: 1 × 1 h (strength training) + 2 × 2.5 h (the field) Period length: 8 weeks |
- lower intensity exercises - special exercises addressing players' technical shortcomings No. of sessions per week: 1 × 1 h (the gym) + 1 × 2 h (the field) Period length: 4 weeks |
| Soccer | - motor skills - endurance training No. of sessions per week: 3 × 1,5 h (the gym) + 5 × 1,5 h (the field) Period length: 6 weeks |
- tactical and technical training - test matches No. of sessions per week: 3 × 1,5 h (the gym) + 5 × 1,5 h (the field) Period length: 4 weeks |
- special exercises and high-intensity aerobic exercises, speed exercises, and speed-endurance exercises No. of sessions per week: 2 × 1,5 h (the gym) + 4 × 1,5 h (the field) Period length: 14 weeks |
- lower intensity exercises - special exercises addressing players' technical shortcomings No. of sessions per week: 1 × 1,5 h (the gym) + 2 × 1,5 h (the field) Period length: 2 weeks |