TY - JOUR AU - Sellathurai, Jeganenthiran AU - Draper, Nick PY - 2022/02/28 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - An insight into Short-sprint coaches’ knowledge and use of periodisation models and training methods - Sri Lankan context JF - Pedagogy of Physical Culture and Sports JA - ppcs VL - 26 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - 10.15561/26649837.2022.0105 UR - https://sportpedagogy.org.ua/index.php/ppcs/article/view/1851 SP - 38-46 AB - <p><em>Background and Study Aim. </em>Periodised training strategies, due to their demonstrated success in improving athletic performance, have become increasingly utilised by coaches, athletes, and strength and conditioning practitioners as a key training methodology. As a consequence, a coach’s knowledge of periodisation and training methods have become increasingly important for improvement of sport-sprint performance. Despite their importance of performance at the elite level, it was suspected that little is known about the Sri Lankan context. As a result, the purpose of this formative exploratory study was to examine knowledge about, and application of, periodisation and training methods by Sri Lankan elite-level coaches working with short-sprint athletes.</p><p><em>Material and Methods. </em>With institutional ethics approval, ten (n=10) expert short-sprint coaches volunteered to participate in the study, with data collected via semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed inductively, to identify ‘patterns’, ‘themes’ and ‘categories’ using the NVivo 12 qualitative software.</p><p><em>Results. </em>Four primary themes emerged from the interview data. These included “<em>Periodisation models</em>”, “<em>Monitoring training</em>”, “<em>Strength development</em>”, and “<em>Speed development”</em>. Findings revealed that coaches reported minimal or inadequate knowledge of periodised training and consequently, there did appear to be a gap between coach knowledge of periodised training, but additionally in regard to general training methodology; including aspect such as prescribing strength and speed training loads and, monitoring of training loads. The coaches believed that their knowledge was inadequate to support athletes with Olympic level potential.</p><p><em>Conclusions. </em>The findings identified a potential knowledge gap in coach education and development for elite sprint coaches in Sri Lanka.</p> ER -