Assessing Athlete Preparedness for Competition
The objective of this article is to propose a method for evaluating athlete preparedness for competition and to provide coaches with insights into the predicted maximal efforts an athlete can achieve based on maximum effort training and weightlifting ratios leading into a competition. The model discussed here is not novel; it is grounded in the work of Laputin and Oleshko, whose research from decades ago continues to inform our understanding.
At its core, this method utilizes foundational weightlifting ratios of accessory lift maximums to estimate a projected maximal competition lift, whether in the snatch or clean and jerk.
Understanding Weightlifting Ratios
To begin, it is essential to review the weightlifting ratios chart below, which outlines the expected percentage ranges for accessory lifts commonly used in training. The full list is provided:
**The above ratios chart is a form we use in house for athletes to track progress and assess athlete status.
The chart calculates all snatch accessory lifts (such as power snatch, block snatch, low hang snatch, overhead squat, muscle snatch) based on the athlete's best snatch, while the remaining lifts (excluding scapular stability percentages) are based on the athlete's best clean and jerk. These ratios are derived from data collected from hundreds of high-level athletes, including national and international competitors, with years of experience in the sport.
Each lift includes a +/- margin, recognizing that these numbers are not fixed and will vary depending on the individual athlete. Variables such as experience, muscle fiber composition, past training history, the specific phase of training, weight class, age, and gender all influence these ratios. It is critical for coaches to consider these individual differences when applying these ratios.
Addressing Weaknesses in Training
This information serves as a powerful tool for identifying and addressing weaknesses in an athlete's training. For coaches, this can guide the direction of programming. If an athlete exhibits a significant weakness in one or more lifts, it provides insight into lagging aspects of their lifts or specific strength qualities that may need targeted improvement.
However, it is important to note that while these ratios can be applied to all athletes, they should be used cautiously with beginners. Novice lifters may lack the experience with a wide variety of exercises, which could result in less accurate data for predicting readiness or form. The data provided here reflects the experience of more advanced athletes and is most relevant at that level.
Timing and Data Collection
Generally, these ratios can be assessed at any point within the annual programming cycle. However, coaches should consider the timing, as athlete ratios will fluctuate throughout the year based on the demands and goals of their training. For example, during a strength development phase, athletes might focus more on tracking push press and squat numbers to monitor the development of different strength qualities.
When evaluating competition readiness, it is crucial to prioritize lifts that have a higher correlation with the competitive biathlon lifts. These lifts should closely resemble the competition lifts in structure and strength qualities.
The exercises with the highest correlation to the competitive lifts are:
Snatch: Power snatch, snatch from blocks, hang or low hang snatch, and overhead squat.
Clean & Jerk: Power clean, hang or low hang clean, clean from blocks, front squat, back squat, push press, push jerk, jerk, and behind-the-neck jerk.
Using Maximal Attempts to Predict Competition Performance
With this understanding, coaches can use maximal attempts of these assistance lifts to calculate predicted maxes for the competitive lifts using the following formula:
Se = Smax × 100% / MR%
Where:
Se = Expected result in snatch,
Smax = Maximum in the special exercise,
MR% = Model of maximal result in assistance exercise.
Coaches can select the exercises they find most relevant for the athlete to test.
To achieve a comprehensive assessment of competition readiness, it is advisable to use multiple special or assistance exercises in the calculations. This approach yields a more balanced and accurate evaluation, which can then inform the setting of competition goals, including openers and potential third attempts.
For example, to calculate the mean snatch outcomes, one would use the PMax outcomes with the following calculation:
Se = 114 + 116+ 113 + 105 / 4 = 112
If the exercise with the lowest correlation to the snatch (in this case, the overhead squat) is removed, the calculation would be:
Se = 114 + 116+ 113 / 4 = 114
Depending on the context of the athlete’s training and programming, the coach can decide whether the four- or three-lift calculation is more appropriate. Either method provides valuable data for assessing an athlete's readiness for competition.
Ensuring Relevant Data
When collecting numbers to evaluate competition readiness, it is best to use recent data from the last few training blocks, ideally within the past 4-9 weeks. How to implement these numbers into training is a topic for future discussion, but for now, the priority is ensuring that the data is relevant and accurately reflects the athlete’s current readiness.
Below is a graph used to calculate athlete readiness prior to competition, with calculations auto-populated from the ratios chart provided above.
**This is a standard list of movements we test and use to calculate readiness for the Snatch, Clean and Jerk. The Clean and Jerk movements must be calculated together to create a Clean and jerk readiness.
