The last years there has been a growing body of knowledge about the role of the central nervous system in performance, fatigue, recovery and injury. Neuromuscular performance and fatigue are essential aspects of performance. Getting stronger is like falling out of a boat and hitting water. Speed and power development is a lot more complex and needs precise planning and juggling with training parameters. Neuromuscular fatigue will compromise speed and sports performance and increases the risk of injury. Because the time and volume that can be devoted to sports conditioning is limited, the time-efficiency of these performance sessions is crucial. This topic practically applies the research on how to design, dose and fine-tune training to maximise its outcome and transfer to sports.
Velocity based training is a modern approach to performance training which utilises velocity tracking technology to better dose the training stimulus. Instead of prescribing repetitions, the set is stopped at a certain loss of speed or power output. Velocity-based training enables the coach or physical therapist to better control the timing of the super-compensation, individualisation and the anabolic-catabolic balance following a workout. The ability to track velocity has become a key coaching tool to maximise training adaptations, motivate the athlete, monitor fatigue and to predict strength and power levels based on the force-velocity curve.