Abstract

Interest in integrated training is growing and to increase its effectiveness it is essential to know how the integration process occurs in living systems. Generally speaking it is usually assumed that the kind of integration which occurs in the body and between the components of training is additive and linear, in other words it is characterised by proportional, fixed and unchanging relationships over time as are found in any technical gadget. This integration model based on classical cybernetics contrasts with the model of nonlinear dynamical integration based on neuroscience, the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems and ecological dynamics. Some principles of nonlinear dynamical integration such as self-organisation, its non-proportional and non-conscious nature and its contextual integration at different scales are often systematically ignored in most common training methodologies. The purpose of this paper is to present the dynamic principles of integrated training to promote the emergence of more effective and efficient methodologies which at the same time are more respectful of athletes and teams.