Periodization in Perspective

Matveyev did not invent Periodization. He was one of many who formalized the concept. Because he was Russian, and the Soviet Union was the dominant geopolitical force in the communist bloc, Soviet ideology tended to prevail even in sport. I believe this explains the dominant influence of the Soviets in the literature of training methodology. Certainly others like Harre in the GDR, Nadori in Hungary all made significant contributions. Most of what we see in the literature today, including the work of Tudor Bompa, who has done much to popularize the concept in North America, is basically a rehash of the Soviet literature. Not much has been done to modify, study and change to adapt the concept to the contemporary challenges that exist today. It is a much different sport environment than it was even as short a time as twenty years ago. Previously where the focus was the Olympic games, hence quadrennial cycles, now there are more frequent world championships and high level competitions in many sports. Competition schedules are not as clearly defined. In most sports, especially ate elite level, there is no off-season. None of the literature on Periodization has ever effectively addressed team sports. In addition one would be naïve not to recognize the huge impact systematic doping had on the development of the former eastern bloc sport development systems. In fact much of the Periodization was based on sophisticated manipulation of drug cycles.