Which phase of training emphasizes maintaining fitness and refining strategies?

The competition phase is critical for athletes as it is the time when they engage in competitive events and showcase their training efforts. During this phase, the focus shifts toward maintaining the fitness levels achieved in earlier phases and fine-tuning specific skills and strategies relevant to their sport. This period emphasizes tactics, in-game execution, psychological readiness, and performance optimization, enabling athletes to perform at their best.

The training conducted in this phase aims to ensure that athletes are not only physically prepared but also mentally equipped to handle the pressures of competition. Thus, it is characterized by refined training sessions that help to solidify performance strategies rather than introducing new skills or significantly altering physical conditioning.

In contrast, the other phases serve distinct purposes: the general preparatory phase is dedicated to building foundational fitness, the transition phase focuses on recovery and a break from intense training, while the specific preparatory phase hones in on refining technical skills and abilities specific to the athlete's sport. Each of these has a different emphasis compared to the competition phase, where strategies and maintenance of fitness are paramount.