Adapted from: Nur Ikhwan Mohamad. Celik Fizikal. (2024). UPSI Press. Perak.
The scope of practice of physical fitness professionals is based on the knowledge and work process required to obtain a positive training response and adaptation. The diagram below is the core concept of physical conditioning process that have also been suggested as the scope of practice for strength and conditioning professionals especially in Malaysia, as it is in-line with current available by-laws and rules. This physical conditioning's coaching process is not only based on experience, but also based on other related references (Zatsiorsky, Kraemer, & Fry, 2020; Turner & Comfort, 2018; Half & Triplett, 2015; Fleck & Kraemer, 2014).
The physical adaptation process generally involves:
Needs analysis. The process of physical adaptation for me is the same as the process in other fields, such as medicine especially. It must start with an 'investigation' or diagnosis or study. So, the first process when we want to carry out the physical conditioning coaching process on an individual is to carry out a needs analysis. The three main things that need to be done are (a) determining the specific needs of the sport or physical activity targeted by the athlete or the individual concerned, (b) analyzing or testing and evaluating the level of the athlete's current physical condition at that time, and (c) determine environmental factors that will affect the physical performance of athletes or individuals. Based on these three main points, a physical conditioning professional determines what tests and evaluations need to be used to enable the three main objectives of this needs analysis, to be achieved or the questions that arise from it to be answered. So, the needs analysis process is also a testing and evaluation process. This is where it is necessary for a fitness professional to have skills in the research process. As it also simply means that the physical conditioning process is a continuous research process.
Goal setting. Previously, in the various classes, workshops, courses, and seminars I have conducted, I have put 'goal setting' as the first process of physical conditioning. But from one research to another, from one coaching consultation process to the next, I found it to be quite inaccurate. Setting goals without diagnosing or analyzing their needs causes the goals set at the beginning to be a barrier to the creativity and innovation needed in the next process. In fact, it may negate the results of the needs analysis tests conducted. Therefore, it is suggested that 'goal setting' is after the needs analysis process. The process of setting goals involves two main things, which are (a) needs, and (b) wants. For example, the test results show that I actually need a program to reduce my body fat percentage, but from my personal point of view and maybe the demands of my work as well, I also want a firmer and stronger body. So, the goals to be set need to take into account needs and wants.
Planning. The process of planning the training involves the process of dividing training according to phases or blocks, which is known as the periodization process as introduced by Tudor O. Bompa (Bompa & Buzzichelli, 2021; Bompa, 1996). The concept of periodization of training has long been practiced by coaches and physical education teachers in Malaysia. It is part of the compulsory syllabus in the national coaching course. However, its broad scope and covering various fields, causing training plan based on the periodization method, is still a difficulty for various parties in the industry. Training blocks in the training plan based on this periodization method are usually divided into 3 main cycles in one year, namely micro cycle (weekly planning), meso cycle (one block or phase for an objective that includes several micro cycles) and macro cycle (combination of several meso cycle that forms a training cycle for a year or season). According to the physical conditioning process here, the training plan process involves planning the training for all related cycles. Another cycle that I need to mention here is the Olympic cycle, where it involves a combination of several macro cycles (several seasons or years of training), which usually follow the Olympic sports cycle held every 4 years. So simply the Olympic cycle is a 4 year cycle of training. This training plan process also actually needs to involve all parties involved with the athlete's trained. This is where fitness professionals need to sit down and discuss with nutritionists, medical experts, sports psychologists, athlete management and any other parties involved. A common mistake made is that the training plan is only made based on one aspect/view only, for example physical conditioning, without taking into account other aspects that will affect it such as the nutrition required to support the physical conditioning process, finances, competition schedule, sponsor's wishes and others.
Programming. Some people ask and are confused, what is the difference between planning the training and programming the training? From the point of view of language and terminology, maybe only one can be used. But from the point of view of strength training and physical conditioning, the programming process is a much smaller and more thorough process, involving sessions and specific exercises of each session itself. Programming is the process of manipulating the variables and parameters of strength training and physical conditioning such as sets, repetitions, load, rest between sets and movement velocity/tempo. In general there are approximately 50 variables and parameters of strength training that able to be manipulated. But the ones that are often used and manipulated are the five presented here.
Monitoring. The monitoring process is also a process of testing and re-testing from time to time. Usually almost all the tests and evaluations used during the needs analysis process will be used periodically and continuously for the purpose of monitoring the performance throughout the training process. The tests and evaluations made must be in the form of tests and evaluations that are capable of being performance indicators directly or indirectly. For example, changes in force production can be indicators of maintaining, decreasing or increasing running speed indirectly. If the force output (via related test such as force plate) is still the same then it is a sign that the basic elements of running speed are still there, even if running speed is reduced due to the effect of other training, to build other components in certain phases of the training cycle (such as during hypertrophy phase of a periodized program). The training monitoring process is one of the processes that actually requires a lot of help from researchers in various fields. This is also where the actual research and development (R&D) process can take place. The use of databases is also very important in this process.
Effect. At this stage, any findings from the performance monitoring process will be discussed with the athletes and experts involved to get a conclusion on the effects of the training. This process is also important in determining what is actually best and what is actually harmful.
Modification. All the findings that are formulated based on the effects that are recorded and discussed, need to go through a modification process. This is the phase where creativity and innovation usually emerge (new training programs, modified tools, new nutritional supply designs and so on). Modification is the process of adapting the training program itself as a response to the effects of past experiences. Modifications can occur at various levels, as small as daily modifications to modifications after several training cycles. A common modification is the re-manipulation of training variables and training parameters (i.e., changing of using velocity as lifting intensity parameter instead of typical load parameter).
Keep in mind, the process of physical conditioning is ultimately to adapt the physique of an individual or athlete to match the needs of sports or physical activities. The process presented above should focus on the ultimate goal of improving physical performance and reducing the risk of injury. Any situation where the physical conditioning process begins to look "obsessed" with monitoring tests or other elements excessively will cause the process to be oblivious to the real intended goal of the physical conditioning process.