Physical Education

Unit - 3

3.2.10.2.Tiredness is the key
There are few sports where the element of skill does not come unto play for optimal performance. Even a basic sport like running can reveal poor technique under conditions of fatigue. Picture, for example, Coe at his best, gracefully kicking away from the opposition. His form would be perfect, leaving a trail of athletes spread along the home straight, with tight upper bodies and shoulders near their earlobes as they struggled to maintain form.

Technique drills for running should normally be done when the body is fresh. The same is true for virtually any quality or skill-based session. However, every so often it is appropriate to perform some high- intensity skill work under conditions of fatigue. This enables practice of the skill when it becomes uncomfortable and ragged, thus mimicking the demands of actual competition.

Speed endurance work, such as high-intensity effort off a short recovery, is one possible means of achieving this. Another is to perform the skilled sprint work after a standard training session, like intervals or even a steady run. It must be stressed that normally such skill work is done when fresh; it is only for a pressure session that the element of fatigue is established first.