Author(s): AOYAMA, A., AOYAMA, K., Institution: NIHON UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 955

INTRODUCTION:
In contemporary elite sport, increased competition frequency and compressed season structures intensify challenges in peak planning and model selection. Although several periodization frameworks coexist, their structural assumptions and practical selection criteria remain unclear. This study aimed to establish explicit theoretical criteria for selecting periodization models under competition congestion.
METHODS:
Three major frameworks developed within the Eastern European tradition were comparatively analyzed: Matveyev's classical periodization (1964), Platonov's multi-cycle structure within the training system (1997), and Issurin's block periodization (2008). A conceptual and structural comparison was conducted based on three analytical dimensions: (1) theoretical conceptualization of sports form, (2) assumed number of annual peaks, and (3) adaptive principles under shortened competition intervals.
RESULTS:
Clear structural differences were identified in the conceptualization of sports form and peak expression. Matveyev described sports form as a cyclical developmental process converging toward a single major annual peak. Platonov retained cyclicity but expanded it into a hierarchical multi-cycle structure that integrates short-term competition demands with long-term sports form development, enabling progressive construction of peak form toward the final primary annual event despite intermediate competitions. Issurin reorganized training units through concentrated loading and residual training effects, allowing repeated short-term performance expression under dense competition conditions.From this comparison, three selection criteria were derived: (1) classical periodization is coherent for sports centered on one major annual peak; (2) multi-cycle structures are appropriate when short-term competition demands must be hierarchically integrated with long-term sports form development toward a primary target event; and (3) block periodization shows structural advantages when competition intervals are extremely short and frequency is high.
CONCLUSION:
The evolution of periodization theory can be understood as a progression grounded in the cyclic nature of sports form while responding to competition congestion through reorganization of temporal structures. These criteria provide a practical framework for model selection according to seasonal goals and competition density.
References: Matveyev (1964); Platonov (1997); Issurin (2008).