Periodisation strategies for young athletes
Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
Periodisation is an integral part of any long-term athlete development (LTAD) plan, providing key developmental targets throughout the athlete’s journey from early foundational activity toward high-performance training during the later stages of the athlete’s development. Conceptually, periodisation provides a mechanism for implementing deliberate practice that aligns with the athlete’s level of development, providing specific structural direction to the athletes’ training process. Ultimately, the ability to prioritise and individualise young athletes’ development using periodisation models in conjunction with established LTAD models has the ability to enhance the effectiveness of the athlete’s training. This chapter seeks to establish a working understanding of the key concepts related to periodisation as well as demonstrate how periodisation theory can be interlinked with LTAD models.
Keywords
periodisation, athlete development, long-term athlete development, training adaptation, youth athletes, sports training
Document Type
Book Chapter
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
Strength and Conditioning for Young Athletes: Science and Application
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
ISBN
[9781032779874, 9781040518168]
Copyright
subscription content
Content Type
Metadata only
First Page
259
Last Page
276
Recommended Citation
Haff, G. G. (2026). Periodisation strategies for young athletes. In R. Lloyd & J. Oliver (Eds.), Strength and conditioning for young athletes: Science and application (3rd ed.). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003485742-18