--- title: Your Quick Guide to Periodization description: Periodization is one of the most effective tools to use in your training plan. Here's a quick guide to share with your athletes about the benefits of this training. image: https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/hub_generated/resized/2c340dd4-ab05-4a65-83aa-6227962ed6c7.jpeg --- [![BridgeAthletic Blog](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hs-fs/hub/414934/file-1317417595.png?width=150&height=50&name=file-1317417595.png "BridgeAthletic Blog")](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com) - [BridgeAthletic.com→](https://bridgeathletic.com/) ![New Call-to-action](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/hub_generated/resized/2c340dd4-ab05-4a65-83aa-6227962ed6c7.jpeg) November 03, 2018 By BridgeAthletic # Your Quick Guide to Periodization Share: - - - ## Periodized Training *What is that? * Sports periodization is the planning of an athletes training through a progressively cyclic format so the athlete is at peak performance for a major event.  Put simply, it is training cycles that are all about timing.  Types of training cycles:  - Macrocycle - 1 calendar year. Phases of training are created to build up to a peak performance for a competition.  - Mesocycle - 2-6 weeks or occurs for the duration of a particular phase with a specific focus.  - Microcycle - 1 week. Focused on a number of light days vs. heavy days of training.  *Why periodization?* - Organizes team's approach  - Protects against overtraining - Enables continuous improvement - Ensure athletes master technique first before progressing [Check out](https://www.nsca.com/education/articles/kinetic-select/hierarchical-structure-of-periodization-cycles/) more on periodization and the different types of cycles your team can be using.   [![New Call-to-action](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hubfs/hub_generated/resized/2c340dd4-ab05-4a65-83aa-6227962ed6c7.jpeg)](https://cta-service-cms2.hubspot.com/ctas/v2/public/cs/c/?cta_guid=5b36158e-b937-4049-aad9-834215221863&placement_guid=e8b2faa3-ccd0-4c14-8995-11d9feb43b03&portal_id=414934&canon=http%3A%2F%2Fbridgeathletic-1.hs-sites.com%2Fcoaching-tips&redirect_url=APefjpFSef9zJI4rQvFNSDDgNSroK6DuUznkYEEwTivy-gPAlRT5vBj2FT4NvJn0GyThFhsJfNRSJr_6opMH6GoyRqV4-HsQbbhuYdBFEntZOARHtP0RQSoQG-0Zz61pUwMwNgbhzF0pOQDCdYkUpa_DVBnQ65sxlBzADVzMUa_Ol86cIphIJtinK4y8_n7bTbGdd8iEL3e-DA0BbywJ-FTx8O_mpjrKlblAT3c4VjzmsyeG2hPv_S4iOci6NP34kkqOmM1V3skyh-AWVojPpv6Hb4j8-N6Mpg&click=e853001f-fe0c-4452-979c-0b91dd121dc8&hsutk=ad472251e05f900c0e69590bae7b2a31&__hstc=233546881.ad472251e05f900c0e69590bae7b2a31.1533925920238.1540867960428.1540873080262.12&__hssc=233546881.2.1540873080262&__hsfp=1044830902) #### About the Author [BridgeAthletic](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/author/bridgeathletic) ![](https://blog.bridgeathletic.com/hs-fs/hub/414934/file-1246672403.png?width=75&name=file-1246672403.png) At Bridge, we are all athletes and coaches first. 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