| Date | November 2017 | Marks available | 3 | Reference code | 17N.3.SL.tz0.3 |
| Level | Standard Level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | time zone 0 |
| Command term | Explain | Question number | 3 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Define overreaching.
Explain how a macrocycle training structure can avoid overtraining and injury.
Markscheme
transient overtraining ✔
a brief period of heavy overload without adequate recovery ✔
macrocycle training structure is the big picture of a persons’ load / usually looks across a year or potentially several years to enable an athlete to peak at the right time / to achieve peak levels of fitness for competition ✔
within a macrocycle there are smaller mesocycles/phases such as transition, preparation, competition / post season, pre-season, in season ✔
within a mesocycle there are microcycles ✔
Each of these cycles will:
gradual adjust specificity, intensity, and volume of training / the principles of training ✔
methods of training will also vary depending on the point in time in the cycle / recovery needs ✔
to avoid overtraining or injury training loads will be adjusted to allow for recovery ✔
For example:
training load may peak a week before an event then gradually drop away / taper away as the day of the event arrives ✔
Award [2 max] for the first 3 mark points.
Examiners report
Generally done well.
Few candidates were able to get full marks. The parts to the macrocycle are known the difficult thing was then to explain how it can help reduce overtraining.
