Table 2 Responses to statements in the general perceptions of deloading dimension
General perceptions of deloading | Round 2 (n = 29) | Round 3 (n = 21) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Agreement (%) | Disagreement (%) | Agreement (%) | Disagreement (%) | |
Deloading training typology | ||||
Deloading could be a reduction in overall training demand | 100.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Deloading could be a reduction in training intensity | 96.6 | 3.4 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Deloading could be a reduction in training volume | 96.6 | 3.4 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Deloading could be a reduction in training frequency | 89.7 | 10.3 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Deloading could be a reduction in proximity to failure | 100.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Deloading could be a way of mitigating physical fatigue in the training cycle | 100.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Deloading could be a way of mitigating psychological fatigue in the training cycle | 100.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Deloading could be a period of recovery | 100.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Deloading could be a period of adaptation | 78.6 | 21.4 | 85.0 | 15.0 |
Taper or Deload? | ||||
Deloading is a form of tapering | 51.9 | 48.1 | 55.0 | 44.0 |
Deloading is different from tapering, as tapering decreases training volume but maintains training intensity whereas deloading does not | 57.1 | 42.9 | 50.0 | 50.0 |
Tapering occurs before competition whereas deloading can occur anywhere in the training programme | 92.9 | 7.1 | 95.2 | 4.8 |
Tapering is designed to achieve peaking whereas deloading is designed to promote recovery | 88.9 | 11.1 | 89.5 | 10.5 |
Current education on deloading training | ||||
Deloading is sufficiently represented in strength and conditioning textbooks | 8.0 | 92.0 | 11.1 | 88.9 |
Deloading is sufficiently represented in strength and conditioning qualifications | 13.6 | 86.4 | 0.0 | 100 |
Current approaches to deloading are primarily based on coach experiential knowledge of deloading | 96.3 | 3.7 | 100 | 0.0 |
There are limited scientific studies and understanding about deloading | 100.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Scientific studies on deloading would inform my approach to deloading | 96.6 | 3.4 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Scientific studies on deloading should be open access | 100.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Networking would provide opportunities for coaches to learn more about deloading | 96.3 | 3.7 | 100.0 | 0.0 |
Non-traditional media, like blogs, podcasts and YouTube videos could be used to disseminate knowledge of deloading | 100.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 |