Sport, training and performance: a critical review

Aim The researches on the possibilities to fully develop the abilities of physical performances began around the 40s and then they were carried widely on in the ex Soviet socialist republics during the years of the cold war. Today, these studies, with new methodologies of analysis and relative researches, follow one another incessantly to prevent the statement of a complete theory which can lead and control the training processes in all sports disciplines. New principles are added to the standard model, new laws are discovered, different hypothesis,notyet scientifically proved, are formulated.What probabilities do we have, therefore, to build a unified theory able to lead to courses of control and long-term forecasts? The contribution explores the possibility to insert, in a coherent context, a synthesis of the studies carried on which takes into account the whole of the observed phenomena and which finds its “nulpunkt” in the starting conditions, that is, in the genetic individuality, an insurmountable problem at present Method The study, through the contribution of different authors and a critical review of the most reliable theories and approaches on the sports training, focuses on the still open issues which will surely open to perspectives of future researches Results/conclusion Today we have right and scientifically proved ideas on how to start processes aiming at developing the utmost sports performances. The problems arise long-term when the body is in extreme conditions of adaptation.The idea of “singularity" is suggested, that is a “physical place” where the laws that before governed the system give up existing with three possible different perspectives of reading. ReferencesJESPER L, ANDERSON P, SALTIN B., Atleti si nasce o si diventa?Le Scienze,2000, n387, 49-57; PLATANOV, Supercompensazione, carichi, adattamento ed alcuni altri problemi della Scienza dello Sport, SdS, 2005,66, SELYE H., The stress of life. New York , 1956, Mc Grew-Hill Book Co., IucTSCHIENE P., Lo stato attuale della teoria dell’allenamento, SdS 2001, n.52, pp.2-6VERCHOSHANSKY, Y.V., VERCHOSHANSKAYA, N., Il cambiamento dei paradigmi nella teoria dell’allenamento sportivo, SdS, 2007,74, ATSIORSKY, KREAMER, J., Science and practice of strength training, Champaign, III Human Kinetic, 2007