What is the main purpose of tapering before a major competition?

The main purpose of tapering before a major competition is to improve performance through reduced training load. Tapering involves a strategic reduction in the volume and intensity of training in the weeks leading up to an event. This period allows athletes to recover from the accumulated fatigue and stress of previous training cycles while maintaining their fitness levels.

During tapering, the body has the opportunity to repair and rebuild muscles, replenish energy stores, and optimize physiological functioning. This rest and recovery enable athletes to approach competition feeling fresher, more energized, and mentally prepared, which can lead to enhanced performance.

In contrast, maximizing training load would typically involve maintaining or increasing the intensity and volume of exercise, which could lead to fatigue rather than recovery. Increasing competition frequency may not necessarily be related to performance optimization and could also lead to burnout or diminished performance. Enhancing fatigue levels is counterproductive to achieving peak performance, as excessive fatigue does not facilitate the adaptations necessary for optimal results in a competition setting.