By Mike King, November 2026
Why Periodization Matters for Young Athletes
In my previous article “Kids need an off-season March 2026” I summarized some serious considerations young athletes and their parents should review regarding the competitive nature of their respective sports and how a structured off-season is recommended to support their overall athletic development. I touched on periodization briefly, but in this post, I will dive a little deeper into what periodization actually is and why it is important when looking at a young athlete’s yearly plan.
Periodization is the yearly plan of training divided into phases where each phase has a measurable objective that changes. As the goal changes, so does how much athletes train, how hard they train, and how much recovery they get. For example, a football player might spend the off-season building strength and work towards technical sprint mechanics but as the season approaches put more emphasis on acceleration. During the season the volume during a training session is reduced and extra training is removed. The post season would be an opportunity to step away from competition altogether, rest and maybe participate in other activities. [1]
Benefits for the Athlete and the Coach
- It gives them time to develop baseline relative and absolute strength which is required for the execution for some basic skills, drills and sprint mechanics
- The brain builds patterns and neurological coordination through practice
- Rest and recovery become part of the training plan
- It allows the coach to decide which athlete’s needs should be prioritized and when to ease off. [2]
Training blocks can be 8-12 weeks in duration allowing the coach to structure sufficient time for in-season, post-season, off-season, and pre-season training phases. A good performance coach understands the cyclical nature of periodization and will use suitable training modalities according to each individual athlete. The training blocks will generally progress from a General Preparation Phase (GPP) to preparation for the demands of competition. For additional information on how to structure your off-season training or for inquiries about KAD Football Off-season Speed Development Program, email coachmike@kingathleticdevelopment.com
Sources
- Kiely (2018), Sports Medicine — Periodization Theory
- Lloyd et al. (2016), Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research — NSCA Position Statement on Long-Term Athletic Development