A Performance Development Plan or Performance Development Process (known as a PDP) is a training programme used to develop a weakness/weaknesses.
In your Higher PE course you will experience a PDP and be asked to write about it in the exam.
Your physical PDP will last 8-12 weeks and an emotional, mental or social PDP will last around 6 weeks.
A PDP template is shown below.
Here is the process you will undertake when completing a PDP.
Stage 1 - Observe your performance
Stage 2 - collect initial data
Stage 3 - analyse this data and identify strengths and weaknesses
Stage 4 - compare to M.P
Stage 5 - Create a PDP
Stage 6 - Complete a PDP
Stage 7 - Monitor and Evaluate performance
When creating a PDP we need to careful plan the programme and whilst completing the PDP we need to consider certain things.
Specific – specific to you and your weakness/ your level of skill or fitness
Progressive – as the PDP goes on it should gradually become harder
Overload – sessions become more difficult by increasing the stress on the body. This can be done by increasing one of Frequency, Intensity and Time (FIT)
Reversibility – rest days should be incorporated to avoid burnout and overtraining and changes to programme due to injury
Tedium – boredom could ensue if your sessions are not varied or fun
Time - time period to complete the programme/review
Frequency – how often you train
Intensity – how hard you train/work
Time – how long you train
Explain why the following two principles should be considered when producing a Personal Development Plan for physical factors.
(a) Specificity. (1)
(b) Time allocation. (1
Warm up – 5 mins dynamic stretching between two cones (high knees, heel flicks, squat jumps, jumps for height etc)
Fartlek training 30 mins – see picture (25mx25m box)
Cool down 5 mins – walking around the pitch, static stretching at each corner.
Warm up – 5 mins dynamic stretching between two cones (high knees, heel flicks, squat jumps, jumps for height etc)
Fartlek training 35 mins – see picture (25mx25m box)
Cool down 5 mins – walking around the pitch, static stretching at each corner.
Warm up – 5 mins dynamic stretching between two cones (high knees, heel flicks, squat jumps, jumps for height etc)
Fartlek training 30 mins – remove the walking section (25mx25m box)
Cool down 5 mins – walking around the pitch, static stretching at each corner.
Warm up – 5 mins dynamic stretching between two cones (high knees, heel flicks, squat jumps, jumps for height etc)
Fartlek training 30 mins– see picture (40m x 40m box)
Cool down 5 mins – walking around the pitch, static stretching at each corner.
At the end of your PDP you will retest (evaluating performance). This will be done to measure how effective the PDP has been and set future performance development goals. You may decide at this point with your coach to extend your PDP - this means to carry it on for longer as there has not been enough improvement in your weakness.
During your PDP when monitoring (use of training diary or retests) you may see that you have made significant progress towards your goal or even already met them. If this is the case you may reprioritise your PDP - this means to focus on a new weakness. This could also be due to; a change in position, change in performance, an injury.
Following the end of a PDP, analysis of monitoring and evaluating data may show that a performer has not made sufficient progress in improving their performance. Extending and making changes to their PDP would allow them time to achieve the goals set within an acceptable time frame.
A performer may choose to reprioritise the focus of the PDP if they have not made sufficient progress, for example, changing the goals set (applying the SMARTER principles to ensure this is done effectively). The performer may also refocus or reprioritise different factors that have emerged as development needs during the PDP.
Through discussion with a coach, they will be able to prioritise any changes to their goals, ensuring they are the most effective for the performer.
Analysis of monitoring data may show that a performer is not making any progress in achieving their set goals at the start of a PDP.
For example, data from retesting of an Illinois Agility test may show a performer is now slower at completing the test that they were when initial data was collected.
In order to get back on track to achieving their goal, adaptations should be made to the PDP. This might include, for example:
Changes to the approaches being used
Increasing/decreasing intensity of training
Increasing/decreasing frequency of sessions
Increasing/decreasing duration of sessions
Changing training partner
Increase/decrease pressure during sessions
The changes implemented by a performer should be those which have the maximum positive benefit on the performance development process.
Where a goal is unlikely to be achieved a performer may re-evaluate their goals and change those. In doing so, SMARTER principles should be used to ensure that the new goals are suitable for the performer.