How can the principle of overload be applied to a sport, such as tennis or basketball?

How can the principle of overload be applied to a sport, such as tennis or basketball?

Answer:

The overload principle is something that can be used especially in the case of tennis or basketball and can add to the enhancement of the athlete’s abilities. This principle proposes that for the body to develop to the next level, this has to be pushed to a level higher than the existing capacity, thus forcing it to evolve in terms of strength, stamina or efficiency.

An example of overload in tennis could be a player applying the overload principle in his or her serve speed. They may start by voting with a racket slightly heavier than the standard one and gradually step up the weight of the racket. This in a way strains the muscles that are involved in serving leading to more strength and power whenever switching to a normal racket. The following could be another application; where the server challenges the player to hit for more extended periods or with more frequencies than as seen in the matches. In basketball, if a player wants to increase their jumping skills, he or she may include plyometrics of progressing difficulty. They could start with Jump squats and then advance to depth jumps or weighted jumps, then they can add height or extra weight to overload the leg muscles. To shoot better a player might shoot from distances that are more difficult or with a defender on him/ her progressively making it more challenging. In both sports, the primary idea is to progress the stress above the current capability, gradually and systematically, so that the adjustment is possible.