This paper provides general guidelines for the training of competitive swimmers, but it could be used also for preparation to compete in any sport requiring intense physical training. The guielines apply to all competitive situations, regardless of the frequency of events. The main emphasis is on periodisation of training (organisation f the programme into phases), but guidelines on specificity and overtraining are also included. Plans for the periodisation of training in some sports have been presented by Matveyev (1981, 1992) and Bompa (1983, 1987). However, their programmes are open to various criticism: they seem to be too complex; they include elements for which there is no current scientific basis; and it is not apparent how they can be applied to the current generation of professional athletes who compete year-round. Furthermore, recent advances in our understanding of the effects of training on the body and on performance need to be taken into account in planning the training of athletes in a modern competitive world.
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