Optimal competition scheduling.

In 2016 a paper was published by Emerson Franchini, Monica Y. Takito, Rodrigo M. da Silva, Seihati A. Shiroma, Ursula F. Julio and myself.

Optimal Interval for Success in Judo World Ranking Competitions” is an investigation into the number of days/weeks between competitions for Judo athletes competing on the IJF senior circuit.

The study concludes:

“Optimal interval period between successive competitions varies according to competition level and sex: shorter intervals (6-9 weeks) for females competing at the lowest competition level (Continental Open), for most of the competitions the 10-13 week interval was detected as optimal for both male and female athletes (Grand Prix, Continental Championship and World Championship), while for the ranking-based qualified male competitions (i.e., Masters and Olympic Games) a longer period (> 14 weeks) is needed.”

The paper suggests that female athletes are competing approximately once every 10-13 weeks.

In terms of athletes development and planning the finding that the optimal is different between male and female athletes is interesting and should be factored into athlete competition scheduling.

Equally, it is worth investigating if your less experienced athletes should be competing more frequently; with the time between competitions increasing as they progress up the ranks.

This does however assume that the increased time between competitions is related. We should research into the subject more fully to understand the area more thoroughly.

 

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