What training strategy is used to reduce fatigue and maximize performance just before competition?

Tapering is a strategic approach in strength and conditioning that involves the gradual reduction of training volume and intensity leading up to a competition. This method allows athletes to recover from the accumulated fatigue of previous training cycles while maintaining their fitness levels. By tapering, athletes can optimize their physical and mental states, ensuring they are fresh, focused, and ready to perform at peak levels during competition.

The effectiveness of tapering lies in its ability to enhance muscular strength, power, and endurance without losing gains achieved during prior training. This is particularly critical as fatigue can inhibit performance; thus, tapering serves to mitigate tiredness and maximize readiness for competition scenarios. Athletes often report feeling more energized and capable of executing their skills effectively after a well-planned tapering phase.

Other strategies, while relevant in different contexts, do not specifically address the pre-competition need to balance rest and performance readiness in the same manner as tapering.