Definition of Physical Training from a NSCA founder
"Exercise training is the systematic process of creating an effective stimulus to elicit a physiologic adaptation over time. Endurance training and resistance training provide a continuum of modalities that affect various physiological systems. An exercise training program can change every physiological system of the body." Kraemer. CSCS of the NSCA. (1993)

Another View on Training
Training is applying a progressive controlled overload of varied types of stimuli to the human system to bring about adaptations that allow a given individual to more effectively function under increasingly stressful conditions (physiological, psychological, motor control) in specific, anticipated environments.

Note: Some experts make a distinction between, at least they did concerning "training" and "conditioning." For them training represents the total effect on the human system while conditioning ("exercise training" noted in the quote above) deals only physiological effects.

Populations
Types of populations should be understood as existing on a continuum with General on one extreme and Competitive on the other extreme. These populations vary in age, gender, interests, and expertise levels. Characteristics of a specific group and the goals they desire to achieve must be carefully considered to maximize your service to them.

1. General population - want to address wellness parameters, life-style fitness, longevity disease prevention, etc.
    

2. Competitive (performance) population -- want to increase specific performance parameters to enable them to achieve specific competitive, performance goals.  

   • Important note!!
     The movement of individuals along the continuum occurs both short-term and long-term over their life-cycles. Due to this fact, it is absolutely critical to understand where on the continuum they have been and are going to maximize your service to them.   

INTENSIFICIATION (my term, not commonly used in the field) -- The difference in Training various Populations

1. Intensification is the movement of critical core training stimuli and variables along a continuum that is capped by minimum and maximum values.

• Example 1: A 100 meter sprinter is using training stimuli that is minimal in endurance, maximal in power, maximal in velocity.

• Example 2: A marathoner is maximizing endurance, minimizing power, optimizing velocity.

• Example 3: A health-conscious individual is moderating endurance, power, and velocity.

2.  Core prescriptive variables are the same for general and competitive populations, it is the degree of intensification of these variables that is necessary to meet the performance needs of each specific population.

• Example 1: A 100 meter sprinter minimizes durations (time), maximizes intensities (rate of work), maximizes repetitions (frequency) and maximizes rest.

• Example 2: A marathoner maximizes durations (time), minimizes intensities (relative to the sprinter), minimizes repetitions, and minimizes rest.

• Example 3: A health-conscious individual moderates the variables of duration, intensity**, repetitions, and rest

  • 'Intensity' is activity specific in this case. This population, running would be typically at a lower intensity than the marathoner. Conversely, this population would engage in other activity modes of much higher intensity than the marathoner.