Yearly Training Plan (YTP)
The Yearly Training Plan
The Yearly Training Plan (YTP) is a coaching tool used to plan an athlete’s annual program of training. An athlete’s YTP can provide the coach and athlete with a general outlook of the entire season, in addition to providing organizations (BC Athletics/Athletics Canada) with a snapshot of an athletes planned activities, Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and targets during a specific year. The YTP is an important guide/road map in an athlete’s development and can provide the athlete with high degree of confidence as they approach the competitive season knowing that they are well prepared.
Development of a Yearly Training Plan (YTP)
The development of a Yearly Training Plan is led by an athlete’s personal coach through communication with the athlete and the athlete’s support system. The athletes support system should include service providers (massage therapist, chiropractor etc.), medical providers (athlete’s primary doctor), parents (depending on the athletes age) and other personnel utilized by coach and athlete. Consultation amongst coach, athlete and service providers should be indicated on the YTP in the form of a face to face meeting (when possible) at the start and end of the Yearly Training Plan.
To start the development of a Yearly Training Plan and Competition Plan, it is recommended that the personal coach begin with a planning session with the specific intent to develop the annual goal for the athlete. An annual goal can include specific performances (time/distance), achievement of a performance level (placing/teams) or technical goals (attainment of improved technique). Once the goal setting session has taken place, and a goal is identified, the coach should “begin at the end” and plan backwards from a specific date (ie. National Championships, Selection Meet, International event).
The Yearly Training Plan and Competition Plan should include, but are not limited to, the following notations:
- Athlete’s Name;
- Coach’s Name;
- Event(s);
- Seasonal Goal(s);
- Key Performance Indicators (KPI's);
- Start Date;
- Planning and Debriefing Meetings (with coach and athlete support system);
- Planned Training Phases (Mesocycles);
- Planned Training Dates (Microcycles);
- Planned Competitions (Competition Plan);
- Planned Testing and/or Evaluations;
- Planned Volume and Intensities;
- Planned Training Camps;
- Event Specific Information (ie. technical emphasis, special/specific strength);
- Recovery and Prevention Sessions (ie. massage, nutrition);
The successful plan should be dynamic in order to account for unseen issues that can arise during the training year (exams, injuries, qualifying for teams). Please see below for 2 examples of YTP formats:
BC Athletics recognizes that, due to various schools of thought on programing, coaches may have differing opinions on the format of a YTP. For this reason, it is recommended that while a training plan format may differ from the suggested formats above a coach should indicate clearly the items listed above when submitting a YTP.
Competition Plan
Within the Yearly Training Plan, athletes and coaches must indicate their Competition Plan. This plan will indicate clearly which competition the athlete is planning on competing in during the year. The competition plan should include the following:
- Club/Open/High Performance Meets;
- BC Championships;
- Canadian Championship;
- International Championships
Understanding that Canadian Championship events and International Championship events may conflict with BC Championships, any Competition Plans within the YTP should indicate the BC Championships, should the plan change based on succesful or unsuccesful selection to such events/teams.
Athlete Support Programs
Yearly Training Plan's are, as part of both the BC Athletics Athlete Assistance and IPS (Integrative Performance Services) Program, must be included with the application by athletes and is reviewed as part of the consideration for funding and support services. All notations above must be clearly indicated on the YTP at the time the application is submitted.
Review of Yearly Training Plan
Understanding that a Yearly Training Plan may be different from coach to coach, BC Athletics offers coaches the ability to have their plan peer reviewed through either the BC Athletics Track & Field Committee, or another coach of the personal coach’s choosing (master coach) within BC. Please note that a cost may be associated with the later. Yearly Training Plans are also reviewed during the evaluation process Club Coach as part of a coach’s portfolio.
Questions
For questions and to request a review of your Yearly Training Program, please contact the Program Manager for Track & Field at megann.vandervliet@bcathletics.org
