Training Theory and Planning

In an outdoor environment, students are required to identify one or more objects and design ten exercises aimed at developing sport-specific physical fitness or improving technical skills in their own sport. The performance of these exercises must be video-recorded and subsequently presented during an online class, accompanied by a justification of why each exercise would be beneficial and relevant to the specific sport.

Additional requirements:

• filming may not take place at sports facilities (e.g., stadiums or sports grounds), and sports equipment (e.g., suspension training systems, resistance bands, or expanders) may not be used;
• one or more objects may be used, but each object must provide actual external resistance;
• hills, sand, water, and stairs (except for portable ladders) are not considered objects for the purposes of this assignment;
• living beings may not be used as objects or sources of resistance.

The independent assignment is assessed on a pass/fail basis. If the student is unable to justify the selection of an exercise or explain its application and relevance to their chosen sport, the assignment will not be considered successfully completed.

For the student’s chosen sport, design one of the following activities for each of the specified age groups: a game, an obstacle course, or a relay:

1. 7–10 years;
2. 11–13 years;
3. 14–18 years.

Each activity must include at least five elements that contribute either to the improvement of sport-specific technical skills or to the development of sport-specific physical fitness.

The selected activity must be video-recorded and demonstrated during the class, accompanied by an explanation and justification of its suitability for the respective age group. The video must show one continuous performance in which all five required elements are clearly demonstrated. Edited or montage-style video material will not be accepted.

Each element of the activity and its application to the respective age group will be assessed, and the student must be able to justify the rationale for its inclusion. If the student is unable to provide an appropriate justification, the independent assignment will not be considered successfully completed.

In the student’s chosen sport, identify five non-traditional partner exercises, which may be performed with or without equipment. The student must perform and video-record these exercises. The recorded material must subsequently be presented, with a justification of the purpose and application of each exercise. A total of five exercises must be recorded, and the student must be able to explain both their non-traditional nature and the specific context in which they may be applied. The partner must actively participate in the performance of each exercise.

For the purposes of this assignment, non-traditional exercises are defined as exercises that incorporate methods, equipment, or movement tasks from other sports, or exercises that are used relatively rarely by coaches to achieve highly specific training objectives.

The student must justify the selection and application of each exercise. If the student is unable to provide an appropriate rationale, the independent assignment will not be considered successfully completed.

Based on the lecture material on athlete selection and its stages in sport, each student must identify one selection criterion for each of the five stages of the selection process in their chosen sport. Each criterion must be video-recorded or otherwise visually demonstrated, using the student or another person as an example. The use of third-party resources is permitted. During the class, the student must explain the relevance and application of each selection criterion within their chosen sport.

Each selection criterion and its application at the respective stage of the selection process must be clearly demonstrated and appropriately justified. If the student is unable to provide a sufficient rationale or to demonstrate the criterion in a clear and unambiguous manner, the independent assignment will not be considered successfully completed.

Based on the lecture materials and using the prescribed format, students must prepare an annual training plan for an athlete or a group of athletes in their chosen sport. The annual training plan must be defended during the class, with a substantiated explanation of the training methods used and the application of periodization in preparing the athlete(s) for competitive performance.

The student must justify the selected periodization model and cyclical structure of the training process, the distribution between general and sport-specific physical preparation, and the alignment of the annual plan with the competition calendar. The student must also explain the development and application of physical abilities, including their specific manifestations and components, within the respective training cycle in order to achieve the intended performance outcome. In addition, the frequency of monitoring and testing must be justified, and the achieved results must be interpreted in relation to the established performance standards. If the student is unable to explain any of these aspects, the grade will be reduced by one point for each insufficiently justified component, potentially resulting in a failing grade. To pass this assessment, the student must receive a grade of at least 5 (satisfactory).

The final grade for the study course is determined by a cumulative examination. The grade awarded for the defence of the annual training plan constitutes the final course grade, provided that all independent assignments have been successfully completed. All assessments within this study course are regarded as interim assessments.

If, for any reason, an independent assignment is not presented during the scheduled class, the next opportunity to complete the assessment will be during the following class, subject to prior agreement with the lecturer.