During the general preparation period, the job of strength training is to regain and surpass the level of general strength from the previous season.
During the sport specific preparation period, the job is to enhance the level of sport specific strength.
During the competition period, the job is to maintain the level of strength attained in the sport specific preparation period.
If the preparation period is long and the competition period is short, the level of strength will not greatly decrease.
If the competition period lasts more than a couple of months, the absence of strength exercises in that time can lead to a loss of strength and a potential worsening of sports results.
To counter this, strength exercises should be performed, although in smaller volume throughout the competition period.
The speed at which strength is lost as a consequence of stopping strength training depends on the timeframe it took to build this strength. Strength built quickly is lost quickly. Athletes with several years of strength training do not lose strength from two weeks of not training.
After discontinuing strength training, athletes can retain strength for up to 6 weeks. Doing a strength workout every 10-14 days can retain strength for periods much longer than 6 weeks as long as the intensity is maintained.
Football players for example, maintain their strength throughout the competition period by performing plyometric exercises once every two weeks.
An athlete can safely stop strength training with heavy loads for one month before competitions with minimal strength loss. Sports performance is not optimal during months when an athlete trains hard because of the accumulating fatigue and because it takes time for the body to adapt.
Depending on the intensity, plyometric exercises should be discarded 1-2 weeks before a competition. The more exhaustive the exercises, the longer the period of refraining from them. Depth jumps being one of the most intensive plyometric exercises, should not be performed less than 10 days before competition.
