COACHES ED
Gold Mind
HOW YOUNG SKI RACERS CAN PREPARE
PSYCHOLOGICALLY FOR CHAMPIONSHIP
SEASON BY LESTER KELLER
One of the fundamental features in the planning and management of an athlete’s program is
the concept of periodization, whereby each aspect
of learning and conditioning is presented at the
proper time. It begins with general athletic skills
preparation and is followed by event-specific technical and tactical learning and practice. Next come
preliminary competitions and qualification events
at the beginning of the season. This path leads
to a culminating event, the championships. The
essence of periodization ends with a peak performance stage where all of the efforts of the season
are put on display. This is the championship period, and for most junior competitors it happens in
the month of March.
Frederic Berthold manages championship
pressures while racing at the World Juniors
competition in Crans Montana on Feb. 3.
