On the path to sporting excellence and international competitiveness, the individual development and management of athletes is one of the most important prerequisites.

Within the framework of long-term performance development, various focal points must be taken into account. In basic training, the different stages of development (e.g. training age, physical and mental age) and dispositions (talent) require comprehensive support and individual, differentiated training. Particularly in high performance training, individualised training is an indispensable prerequisite for the maximum development and maintenance of sport-specific performance. Coaches also play a special role in the development of athletes.

For some years now, there have been calls for greater individualisation of training and competition. Thanks to a large number of practical methods and scientific findings, this can now be better achieved than was the case a few years ago. Nevertheless, the clarification and precision of the processes and mechanisms of individualisation is a current challenge for sports science.

The action area includes the following themes:

• Health Management
• Psychosocial requirements for top performance
• Nutrition Management
• Coach success factor
• (Bio-)mechanical prerequisites for athletic performance
• Diagnosis and control of training and competition
• Special features of youth sport