During the competition phase, athletes focus primarily on:

During the competition phase, the primary focus for athletes shifts to maintaining their existing fitness and skill levels. This is a critical period where the preparations from previous training cycles culminate in performance. Athletes are not looking to drastically increase their fitness or learn new techniques at this stage; rather, they aim to fine-tune their skills, ensure their conditioning is optimal, and maintain peak performance while managing fatigue.

Maintaining fitness encompasses strategies to preserve strength, endurance, and skill execution without overtraining, as too much additional training could lead to fatigue and negatively impact performance. This is why maintaining fitness and skill level is key; it allows athletes to perform at their highest capability during competitions.

The other options do not accurately represent the athlete's focus during this important period in their training cycle. High volume training would typically occur in earlier phases, while resting and recovering might play a role but should not dominate the competition phase. Similarly, starting new training techniques is better suited for pre-competition training blocks rather than when athletes are preparing for or participating in competitions.