Avalos, M., Hellard, P., & Chatard, J-C. (2003). Modeling the training-performance relationship using a mixed model in elite swimmers. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35, 838-846.

The relationship between training and performance was modeled in national and international French competitive swimmers (N = 13). Training effects were studied over three seasons. The annual study period was eight weeks preceding a performance. Three phases were delineated: the first two weeks (early-training); weeks 3, 4, and 5 (mid-training); and weeks 6, 7, and 8 (late-training).

Cluster analysis identified four groups of Ss for reactions to training, which means when Ss were exposed to the same training program there were four different reactions to the same training content. The reactions were as follows:

• Ss who responded well to the late-training phase;
• Ss who responded well to the mid- and late-training phases;
• Ss who responded well to the short- and mid-training phases; and
• Ss who responded well to the entire training period.

Between-swimmer differences expanded over the three seasons resulting in greater intra-group variations in the initially identified four groups. The early-training phase responses were negatively related to ultimate performance. The influence of the mid-training phase diminished over the three years while late training increased.

Implications.

• Within a training season, groups of swimmers respond differently at different times, their responses being related to eventual performance at the end of the training period.
• Across three seasons, individuals differentiate further in training responses. Instead of swimmers growing closer in response to a training program, they become more variant. This gives credence to the proposed practice of treating elite swimmers on a purely individual basis.
• Across three seasons, eventual performance prediction is better using late-training phase responses as indicators rather than mid- or early-training phase responses. Essentially, this means with experienced elite swimmers one cannot predict eventual performances from early- or mid-training responses.
• The early-phase of training, when swimmers are "getting back into training", usually is negatively related to eventual performance.
• It is difficult to predict eventual swimming performances from training responses because any relationship changes from year to year and the responses are particularly individual.

Return to Table of Contents for Training for Swimming.