CSCS CSCS Periodization & Performance Planning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a macrocycle in periodized training?
- Plan daily workout sequences
- Organize training into a long-term structure (typically one year) aligned with competition goals (Correct answer)
- Determine the rep and set scheme for a single session
- Schedule deload weeks every four weeks
Correct answer: Organize training into a long-term structure (typically one year) aligned with competition goals
A macrocycle is the longest training period, typically one year, providing an overarching structure that aligns all training phases with peak competition.
Question 2: In traditional (linear) periodization, which phase typically follows the hypertrophy/endurance phase?
- Peaking phase
- Basic strength phase (Correct answer)
- Power phase
- Transition (active rest) phase
Correct answer: Basic strength phase
Traditional periodization progresses from hypertrophy/endurance → basic strength → power/peaking, systematically increasing intensity and decreasing volume.
Question 3: Which periodization model manipulates training variables on a daily or weekly basis rather than in multi-week blocks?
- Linear periodization
- Undulating (nonlinear) periodization (Correct answer)
- Block periodization
- Reverse periodization
Correct answer: Undulating (nonlinear) periodization
Undulating (nonlinear) periodization varies intensity and volume on a daily or weekly basis, providing frequent stimulus variation within the same mesocycle.
Question 4: The concept of 'supercompensation' predicts that performance capacity will peak at what point?
- Immediately after a high-intensity training session
- During the fatigue phase following overload
- After recovery from a training load, when capacity exceeds baseline (Correct answer)
- Only after a minimum of 6 weeks of deloading
Correct answer: After recovery from a training load, when capacity exceeds baseline
Supercompensation occurs after sufficient recovery from a training stimulus, causing fitness to rise above pre-training baseline levels.
Question 5: Which term describes a planned reduction in training volume or intensity designed to allow full recovery before competition?
- Overreaching
- Tapering (Correct answer)
- Potentiation
- Detraining
Correct answer: Tapering
A taper involves systematically reducing training load in the weeks before competition to dissipate fatigue while preserving fitness.
Question 6: What distinguishes 'functional overreaching' from 'non-functional overreaching'?
- Functional overreaching involves permanent performance decline; non-functional is temporary
- Functional overreaching results in short-term performance decline that reverses with rest in days to weeks; non-functional overreaching takes weeks to months to resolve (Correct answer)
- Only non-functional overreaching is planned by the strength coach
- Functional overreaching exclusively affects aerobic athletes
Correct answer: Functional overreaching results in short-term performance decline that reverses with rest in days to weeks; non-functional overreaching takes weeks to months to resolve
Functional overreaching is a deliberate short-term overload from which athletes recover quickly, while non-functional overreaching requires significantly longer recovery.
CSCS CSCS Periodization & Performance Planning 1
What is the primary purpose of a macrocycle in periodized training?