Periodization is essential for sports. Athletes must have cycles of General Physical Preparation and Specialized Physical Preparation throughout the Annual Macrocycle to increase performance and prevent injuries.
In the final stages of Specialized Physical Preparation, exercises are optimal when the main sport movement is performed, with increased resistance.
This is called speed-resisted training. Examples include uphill cycling for cyclists and punching with heavier gloves for boxers.
There are two rules in speed-resisted training:
1) Added resistance should be provided in the direction of propulsion.
2) The resistance should not be too large and should not change the sports technique.
Resistance in land based athletic events can be increased by adding weight, performing uphill movements and by increasing aerodynamic resistance with parachutes.
The typical requirement in athletics is to increase the horizontal component of the exerted force (overcoming air resistance).
Weight vests, ankle cuffs etc may be worn, however these require that force be exerted in an inappropriate vertical direction (against gravity). In running for example, this results in the body lifting excessively in the flight phase.
Including some form of uphill running has benefits but must be limited by chance of possible changes in sports technique.
Increased aerodynamic resistance in the form of parachute training, on the other hand, is a popular method among elite athletes in sports such as running and offers several advantages over other methods of resistance training:
1) The resistance force acts purely in the direction of the athletes movement.
2) Sports technique is not negatively changed.
3) Parachutes are not limited to training in straight running but can also be utilized when the athlete is running curves, running over hurdles or changing direction (e.g. for football or rugby).
4) Parachutes weigh only a few grams so they can be easily transported.
5) A parachute can be released while the athlete is running, which provides a catalyst to then increase movement speed.
