The Effects Of A Self-Designed Off-Season Training Program On Physiological Variables In Division Iii Collegiate Athletes

Abstract

Many aerobic-based athletes at small colleges and universities take it upon themselves to design their off-season training programs. They piece together knowledge they have acquired from past and current coaches along with their limited knowledge of exercise physiology and conditioning. The intent of this study was to determine if a self-designed aerobic training program will have positive effects on physiological variables of division III collegiate athletes. Seven student-athletes (4 female and 3 male) were asked to participate in three testing sessions over an eight week period during the summer of 2008. In between testing sessions, the student-athletes were required to work out a minimum of three days per week on a self-designed program. A testing session included a submaximal program with five six-minute stages, in which stage three was set at their self-determined 10 kilometer running pace. Stage one was then set at 1.0mph under their self determined pace, and each stage was increased by 0.5mph. The incline was maintained at 1.0% incline for the entire test. After the submaximal test was completed, the individual was allowed to recover for approximately 10 minutes and then partook in a maximal test. The maximal test pace was set at the pace just below lactate threshold as determined by the submaximal test. The maximal test began at 0.0% incline for two minutes. In stage two, the incline was increased to 4.0% for two minutes and then increased by 1.0% every minute thereafter until volitional fatigue. The speed remained constant during the entire maximal test. Variables collected during testing included: oxygen uptake, lactate, respiratory exchange ratio, and heart rate. All student-athletes showed an improvement in the physiological variables measured. This included a decrease in respiratory exchange ratio (<0.05), an increase in oxygen uptake maximal values (<0.05), and a rightward shift of their lactate threshold curves (<0.05). Positive adaptations were found among the student-athletes who were consistent with the goals of their off-season workouts. The results of this study show that self-designed training programs can elicit the results that student-athletes have desired. With proper experience and education, student-athletes can successfully design effective training programs.