USING A PERIODISED TRAINING PROGRAM TO ENHANCE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE OF LONG JUMP IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

It is widely accepted that adolescents can enhance sporting performance with targeted training interventions. At present, there is no literature around the implementation of a targeted training program inside the physical education (PE) curriculum to enhance the physical performance of students in PE. The purpose of this case study is to present a periodised training program that took students through multiple blocks of training. The intention was to have them 'peak' at the end of the unit, allowing them to achieve the highest possible marks for the physical activity of long jump. Students (8 male participants, age 17.43 ± 0.24 years, height 181 ± 5.0 cm, weight 70.3 ± 6.1 kg, no prior experience in the sport of long jump) undertook 38 lessons for training. The training program was divided into pre-season, as well as an inseason phase that included pre-competition and in-competition sub-phases. The participants performed four selected tests: 1 repetition maximum (RM) back squat, countermovement jump (CMJ), 30 m sprint and the event test of performing a long jump. By targeting the key underlying physiological requirements for the sport of long jump, all participants in this study where able to improve their strength (15.60%), power (7.10%) and speed (3.59%), but most importantly, all made improvements in their long jump (5.43%). The authors posit that by increasing the participants physiological capability, each student was able to demonstrate the relevant movement strategies and sequences to a higher standard, resulting in higher marks being awarded for physical performance. The authors suggest that there is an opportunity for strength and conditioning (S&C) coaches currently working in schools to add value by offering knowledge and skills that the PE teacher may lack. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR