MAXIMAL AEROBIC SPEED WORKSHOP

The first workshop, Aerobic Fitness Testing & Maximal Aerobic Speed Determination covers the following content:

– What is Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS)
– How do you accurately determine MAS
– Field based tests to determine MAS
– Objective running conditioning prescription
– What is high intensity interval training (HIIT)?
– HIIT vs. other training types (continuous, fartlek, cross training)
– Why is HIIT so effective at improving aerobic fitness
– Why is aerobic fitness important for performance
– What can team sports learn from endurance sports?
– Pre-season vs. in-season conditioning

 

Nathan is clearly an advocate of objectively prescribed conditioning, with Maximal Aerobic Speed the cornerstone of his conditioning philosophy.

However, one of the major frustrations that Nathan has encountered since Maximal Aerobic Speed has gained popularity amongst Strength and Conditioning Coaches, Sport Scientists and Practitioners, is that there is a general misunderstanding as to what Maximal Aerobic Speed is, and how it should be applied by athletes, practitioners and coaches alike.

This generally results in some anti-MAS sentiment, particularly from the ‘tempo’ training crowd and/or athletes and coaches that have a track and field background. Generally, coaches and practitioners with this background tend to prescribe conditioning more subjectively, which when applied with endurance athletes (i.e. middle distance runners) can be effective due to the endurance athletes being au fait with how to subjectively guide their effort and pace when completing conditioning sessions. Despite the insistence of some coaches and practitioners, subjective conditioning cannot simply be applied with team sports, such as football, soccer, hockey, basketball, Gaelic sports etc, as these athletes can’t pace their subjectively guided efforts effectively and accurately. In turn, this not only results in an inferior acute physiological stimulus when compared to objectively guided conditioning, but the stimulus is inconsistent as athletes can hide and deceive coaches with how hard they are working. This plays into the hands of lazy or unmotivated athletes, of which there are plenty in team sports.

Enter objectively guided conditioning using Maximal Aerobic Speed as the intensity measure for prescribing accurate, effective and consistent conditioning. The first conditioning workshop, titled Aerobic Fitness Testing & Maximal Aerobic Speed Determination has been specifically created to dispel some of the common Maximal Aerobic Speed training misnomers, whilst also providing clear scientific and anecdotal evidence to educate coaches on the intricacies of Maximal Aerobic Speed.

The basis of Maximal Aerobic Speed application is the accurate determination of MAS as an intensity measure using fitness tests to assess aerobic endurance or aerobic fitness. Such tests include but are not limited to the 20m Shuttle Run, YOYO Intermittent Recovery tests, Time Trials, Maximal Aerobic Speed test, University de Montreal Track test and the 30-15 test. This workshop covers the nuances of these aerobic fitness tests in detail, specifically looking at their validity and reliability to assess aerobic fitness and determine Maximal Aerobic Speed.

Whilst the selection of the appropriate fitness test to determine aerobic fitness is critically important and integral to using Maximal Aerobic Speed to prescribe objective conditioning, most coaches and practitioners don’t understand the importance and often choose to use aerobic fitness tests that are not valid or reliable to determine Maximal Aerobic Speed. In turn, this adversely impacts the ability to prescribe conditioning using Maximal Aerobic Speed as the intensity measure due to the Maximal Aerobic Speed value being erroneous and inaccurate. In essence, this contradicts the utilisation of Maximal Aerobic Speed to prescribe accurate and effective objective conditioning.

In addition to the covering aerobic fitness testing and Maximal Aerobic Speed determination, the first workshop also includes the following:

– What is Maximal Aerobic Speed (MAS)
– How do you accurately determine MAS?
– Field based tests to determine MAS
– Objective running conditioning prescription
– What is high intensity interval training (HIIT)?
– HIIT vs. other training types (continuous, fartlek, cross training)
– Why is HIIT so effective at improving aerobic fitness?
– Why is aerobic fitness important for performance?
– What can team sports learn from endurance sports?
– Pre-season vs. in-season conditioning

If you want to ensure that your aerobic fitness testing is accurately and effectively assessing aerobic fitness and determining Maximal Aerobic Speed, make sure you check out this online workshop.