This book by Dr. Michael Yessis oversees different problems involved in developing a system of preparing runners for short, middle, long and even ultra long distances. He takes into consideration the most modern concepts in the theory and methods of physical (sports) education. The information presented in this book can be recommended without exception for use in all sports where the main competitive skill is running.
Increases in sports achievements are to a great extent determined by the levels of absolute speed, (the sport speed-strength quality) and explosive strength. Their relationships depend on the level and qualifications of the athlete, his or her individual characteristics and the specifics of the sports event. This doesn’t take into consideration the tasks appearing before the athlete over the duration of each consecutive period of sports form development in the preparatory periods. During each of these periods, the relationships between the above mentioned qualities should change according to the increase in the sports result.
Discussion here is of the multi-year system of training athletes which consists of preliminary preparation, deep specialization, achievement of high sports results, maintaining the achieved level of sports achievement and the loss of sports form (peak development). Here it is well known that the uninterrupted increase in sports results over the duration of each consecutive period of sports form development, can be realized only when the complexity of the program used increases all the time. Dr. Michael Yessis brings this out well in the book. He presents complete details for using exercises to develop the necessary speed-strength qualities, looking not only at the complexity and essence of the exercises but also the methodological principles of their use (number of sets, number of repetitions).
Of great value in this book is the chapter in which the biomechanical aspects (technique) of running various distances are looked at. It is well known that achievement of high sports results depends to a great extent on the presence of effective running technique, the bases of which should be instilled in childhood. This relates to the beginning stages as well as base preparation (beginning specialization in one or another event).
With sorrow, the chase after high sports achievements at an early age leads to the fact that for many athletes, it becomes necessary to correct errors acquired by them in the early years, even on the level of high sports mastery. In order to do this, much time is lost in the first two stages of multi-year preparation. In most cases, it is not possible to make the changes. As a result, the ineffective technique used, based on the degree of improvement in this sports result, becomes more comfortable rather than trying to acquire effective technique. The sensations instilled from ineffective techniques remain for one’s entire life. To eliminate them is practically impossible as is changing them to some other more effective ones.
However, Dr. Michael Yessis tackles this problem in a way not done before. Not only is the reader shown how to make appropriate changes but prescribes special exercises to develop the ability to make the changes. More than usual attention in the book is given to these specialized exercises, which help the athlete correct the earlier acquired technique errors. In order to overcome them, every coach should know not only the biomechanical bases of technique of one or another event but also be able to find the reasons for the errors occurring. Recall that an error appears as a consequence of incorrect execution of an earlier produced movement. The movement can be local (movement of separate body links of the athlete as for example, the arms or legs) or it could be their static running position.
Prescription of such exercises can only be done by a specialist, deeply involved in the essence of this problem. We should note that such work in the specialized scientific methodological literature is extremely rare. Most frequently coaches talk about the errors in execution of one or another exercise (movement) but write nothing about the reasons for their occurrence nor do they give clear and precise recommendations for their correction as does the author (Dr. Yessis).
It is generally known that in the preparatory foundation of different level athletes, there are a definite number of general pedagogical and specific principles of sports improvement. The author does not address all of them but selects and writes about the more important ones. We will relate to one of these; the principle of individuality, which appears as the most significant. It is necessary to understanding and be cognizant of the fact that each person is different from another not only according to anthropometric measurements and physical and other data, but also in the activity of the central nervous system. We can rise to a higher level of training mastery by knowing not only the complexity of the process of sports improvement but also by seeking more effective means of achieving the highest sports achievements.
It is very natural that the author devotes attention to the problem of constructing yearly cycles of training. Without regularities or laws of development, maintenance and loss of sports form, it is practically impossible to effectively direct the process of sports improvement. Pertinent to this are the interrelationships between the processes of learning and improvement of technique and the development of the necessary physical qualities. These two processes are separate and mutually conditioning or as is well known, it is impossible to separate the content (physical qualities) from technique.
The book by Dr. Michael Yessis appears as an exceptional display in the theory and methods of physical (sports) education in general and more specifically in the sport of track and field. I recommend giving careful consideration to the study of the theoretical and practical aspects of this book. This will allow specialists to rise up to yet a higher level of theoretical and practical knowledge.
In conclusion, I want to give a great personal thank you to Dr. Yessis who wrote [translated] my book, Transfer of Training, (keeping in mind that it appeared as a result of my work done over many decades). It helped me uncover many problems in the perfection of runners, and significantly widen my horizons in the track and field throws.