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Tapering is a word we use in weightlifting to describe the final week in preparation for a weightlifitng competition.

The final week before a meet usually consists of less volume, intensity and a reduced frequency of training to allow the athlete supercompensation from the prior training cycle.

With that said, I wanna hear some new ideas and or stories of some great pre-competition “tapering”strategies that worked or didn’t work well. Include some ideas as to why you think it was or wasn’t succesful.

i’ve never competed so i don’t have anything to add but i am interested to see what people say. i have no desire to compete any time soon but maybe someday i’ll do it for shits & giggles.

You could compete this Sunday at the Cal Strength classic.

Maybe go up against Spitz. ; )

Do you have to do that before every competition?

It isn’t necessary but its highly advantageous for many reasons to taper for meets.
It also depends on how important the meet is a small local competition is less important than a national qualifier, or world championship.

Generally yes though

I have an unsuccesful tapering story!
When I travel via plane to Weightlifting meets, I plan on arriving 2 days prior to competition.  Day 1 allows me time to settle into hotel, adjust to time change, find venue, etc.  Day 2, I generally train light, approximately 24 hours prior to my session time.  It has worked well for  me in the past, to do a few light sets with warm-up weights of Snatch, Clean and Jerk, and Back Squat.
2 years ago, at Nationals, the weights were not unloaded until the evening before my session (I was scheduled early on the first day of meet).  I made the mistake of following thru with my original final workout regime, instead of altering or eliminating.  The result was sore, tired legs on the day of competition!

 bring it on Pete, little girly man!

you’re going down sucker

 Yea that can always be a tricky situation when things happen unexpectedly.
The closer you get to the day of competition the more critical the balance between work and rest.

A good coach and program go a long way in making the right things happen.

And experience helps, too.  (I had a good coach, but he was on the airplane, at the time, still travelling to the meet city.  Thus, no coach to get advice from!) 

The Cal Strength Classic was fantastic, btw!!!  How many lifters in total?  Seemed like 70 or 80..

The Cal Strength classic had 70 lifters competining in a total of 15 mens and womens weight classes with every level of competitor from a 12 year old beginners first meet to Jim Schmitz 6th decade of lifting.
 
All in all it was a great meet!

Hey MMax…didn’t you coach a lifter to an American Record at this meet???

I did she made a masters american record in the 40-44year old age group. Clean adn Jerk 66kg at a bodyweight of 48kg
She will hopefully break that at the next meet!

 
Congrats to you and your lifter!  Keep us posted on more record breaking.
 
Is she close to breaking the Snatch or Total Records?

There is no such thing as tapering, there is no such thing as percentages, training cycles, and work out programs!!!!!!!  jk, well kinda

Getting drunk before my meet and not sleeping as well as I could have was NOT an effective strategy for tapering :oP

However, prior to another competition I did in March, I simply worked light technical work, ate a lot, slept a lot, and DIDN’T drink anything the night before.  That proved to be pretty good as I performed well that weekend.