24. Planning Your Season - Part I: Building the Foundation

In Pill 24, "Planning Your Season - Part I: Building the Foundation," Peter Bristotte provides a masterclass in strategic preparation, challenging coaches to move beyond "guessing" and toward a purpose-driven roadmap. This chapter introduces the essential framework of reverse-engineering a season, showing you how to work backward from major competitions to structure macro-, meso-, and microcycles effectively. You will explore critical pre-season priorities—from establishing a team identity and reinforcing "Points of Performance" to implementing injury-preventing "prehab" routines—while learning why manipulating training volume is the key to peaking in a high-intensity sport like volleyball. Bristotte also offers vital warnings against early specialization in youth development and emphasizes the need for continuous assessment, ensuring your season plan remains a living, responsive guide that prioritizes long-term athlete growth over short-term wins.