Unit 4: Fitness Training and Programming

Unit 4: Fitness Training and Programming

Fitness is vital to achieving success in sport and individuals who are serious about their sports performance will carry out a fitness training programme. Elite athletes develop and maintain high levels of fitness and take fitness training very seriously. Many elite athletes have a designated fitness coach. In addition, a large number of individuals want to improve their fitness in order to participate in community sports activities and competitions. Fitness is also important for active leisure pursuits such as outdoor activities. It is therefore important for individuals working in the sports sector to have an understanding of how to plan fitness training sessions and how to design fitness training programmes.

This unit is particularly relevant for those who aspire to working in sports coaching, fitness instructing or elite sport.

The first part of the unit involves learners examining different methods of fitness training. These include methods of training to improve flexibility, strength, muscular endurance, power, aerobic endurance and speed. Learners will develop the ability to prescribe appropriate exercise intensities, work/rest ratios, resistance, repetitions, sets, number of exercises, order of exercises, speed of movement and systems of training depending on the nature of the session and client needs.

The second part of the unit involves learners planning a fitness training programme for a selected individual. Learners will examine the principles of training and the concept of periodisation. Learners are required to set goals for a fitness training programme and plan the training year. They are also required to monitor and evaluate a fitness training programme. This involves using a training diary and/or feedback and reviews then evaluating the extent to which the programme is achieving goals set.

On completion of this unit a learner should:

• Know different methods of fitness training.
• Be able to plan a fitness training session.
• Be able to plan a fitness training programme.
• Be able to review a fitness training programme.