Shaping and structuring energy system development during pre-season and in-season with Pete Burridge
Apr 4, 2025
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Pete Burridge, a seasoned strength and conditioning coach at Bristol Bears Rugby, shares his extensive expertise in energy system development and training methodologies. He discusses the importance of aligning energy systems with game models and effective coach-player communication for optimal performance. Pete expresses skepticism about Zone 2 training in team sports and highlights innovative gamification strategies to boost athlete engagement. He also emphasizes the necessity of high-intensity training protocols and the role of heart rate monitoring in conditioning success.
Energy system development in rugby must be tailored to align with the team's game model and coaching strategies for optimal performance.
Effective communication between coaches and performance staff is essential to enhance player readiness and foster a cohesive training environment.
Incorporating gamification and heart rate monitoring strategies during conditioning can significantly boost athlete engagement and motivation throughout training sessions.
Deep dives
The Significance of the Bronco Test
The Bronco test is a widely recognized fitness assessment within rugby, serving as a benchmark that players and coaches can relate to. Although other tests may provide better insights into athletes' physiological capabilities, the Bronco test's familiarity ensures that everyone involved understands performance standards. This test involves running multiple intervals over set distances, making it a useful tool to gauge readiness and motivation during pre-season training. Ultimately, its prominence in rugby helps athletes arrive prepared and sets clear expectations for their physical conditioning.
Understanding Fitness in Rugby
Defining fitness in the context of rugby is complex, as it encompasses the ability to execute technical and tactical skills under both physical and mental pressure. Technical proficiency must be complemented by tactical awareness, which can be influenced by effective coaching and game strategies. Furthermore, the physical demands of a high-intensity game require players to manage not just their endurance but also their mental resilience in critical moments of play. Thus, a well-rounded approach to fitness considers all these elements rather than focusing solely on traditional metrics like speed or endurance tests.
Structuring Energy System Development
Energy system development is integrated into the training structure of a rugby team, typically guided by the head coach's emphasis on maximizing player engagement through ball handling. The organization of training days follows a pattern of high and low-intensity sessions, allowing adequate recovery while ensuring multiple exposures to high-intensity demands. Conditioning sessions often include a combination of on-feet and off-feet activities, fostering the right balance between skill acquisition and physical conditioning. By focusing on touches with the ball, conditioning becomes more specific and relevant to the game itself.
Gamifying Conditioning Sessions
To enhance player motivation during conditioning, incorporating gamification strategies can significantly impact engagement levels. Setting global targets, dividing players into teams, and creating competitive challenges can boost performance and enjoyment of otherwise monotonous training routines. The use of heart rate monitors provides real-time feedback, allowing players to compete against themselves or each other, fostering a competitive atmosphere. This innovative approach aims to maintain athlete interest while pushing them to improve their fitness levels in a dynamic and enjoyable manner.
The Role of Zone Two Training
Zone two training has garnered attention as an effective way to develop aerobic capacity, but its application in team sports like rugby can be nuanced and debated. Given the lower overall training volume compared to endurance sports, rugby players may benefit from alternative means of achieving similar fitness adaptations without excessive low-intensity work. Utilizing recovery walks or light activity outside formal sessions may provide the necessary aerobic base while ensuring mental recovery for players. Ultimately, the importance of context in training prescriptions highlights the need for a balanced approach that considers player needs, training loads, and overall performance goals.
In this episode of the Pace Performance Podcast, Rob speaks to Pete Burridge who delves into the complexities of energy system development in rugby, exploring how it intertwines with tactical and technical execution under physical and mental strain. They discuss the importance of energy system development tailored to the game model, the role of testing in performance, and the strategies employed during pre-season conditioning.
Pete shares insights from his experiences at various rugby clubs, emphasizing the need for effective communication between coaches and performance staff to optimize player readiness and performance. In this conversation, Pete discusses various aspects of training methodologies, focusing on progressive overload, heart rate monitoring, and the psychological impacts of training on athletes. He shares insights on the importance of volume in training, the use of heart rate as a performance metric, and the challenges of maintaining athlete engagement.
Additionally, he expresses skepticism about Zone 2 training in team sports and explores innovative ways to gamify training sessions to enhance motivation and performance. The conversation culminates in a discussion about high-intensity training protocols and their necessity for athlete development.
Main talking points:
A high-low training format allows for optimal recovery and intensity management
Energy system development should align with the team's game model and coaching strategies
Off-feet conditioning is crucial for managing player fatigue and ensuring readiness
Gradual integration of new players into conditioning is essential for their adaptation
Volume is a key driver for central adaptations like cardiac output
Training monotony can be mitigated with engaging strategies
Zone 2 training has limited applicability in team sports
Gamifying training can enhance athlete engagement and performance
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