Maths in athletics: training plans

Quick answer

You can use maths to plan your athletics training by scheduling rest times, runs, and practice sessions so you don’t get too tired and can get better at sport.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to plan your own athletics training using maths to decide how long to rest, run, and practice so you stay healthy and improve.

• You can make a simple training schedule using time and numbers.
• You can work out how much time you spend on each part of your athletics training.
• You can see how rest helps your body get ready for more training.
• You can make a fun training plan for yourself or a friend.

Why this matters

Maths helps athletes plan how much time to spend on different activities. It helps them know when to rest so they don’t get hurt or too tired. If you’re training for athletics, you need to plan your time well so you can get better at running, jumping, or throwing.

Whether you’re doing a 50-metre sprint or training for a long race, maths helps you make a good plan. It’s like a recipe – you need the right amounts of each part to get the best results!

How it works

Planning your athletics training uses maths in simple ways:

1. Count the time you spend on each activity.
2. Use addition to find the total time for your training.
3. Use subtraction to know how much time is left for rest or other things.
4. Make a schedule to keep track of when you do each thing.

For example, if you run for 10 minutes, rest for 5 minutes, and practice jumping for 10 minutes, you can add these times to see how long your whole training session is.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you are training for a 100-metre race. Here is how you might plan your session using maths:

Now, let’s add up the time:

5 + 10 + 5 + 10 + 5 = 35 minutes

Your whole training session is 35 minutes long!

Let’s try another example. You are planning a weekend athletics training plan:

On Saturday, you train for:

20 + 15 = 35 minutes

On Sunday, you train for:

20 + 10 = 30 minutes

Over the weekend, you train for:

35 + 30 = 65 minutes

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: Plan Your Own Athletics Training Day!

Imagine you are a young athlete preparing for a school athletics day. You want to plan your training for one day. Here’s how to do it:

1. Start with a warm-up run for 5 minutes.
2. Do 3 rounds of sprint practice. Each round takes 8 minutes.
3. Take a 10-minute rest break.
4. Practice jumping for 12 minutes.
5. End with a cool-down walk for 5 minutes.

Now, add up the time:

5 (warm-up) + 8 + 8 + 8 (sprints) + 10 (rest) + 12 (jumping) + 5 (cool-down) = ?

Can you work out the total? It’s 56 minutes!

Challenge: What if you want to add 3 more minutes of rest? How long will your training be then?

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Forgetting to add up all the times.
• Why it happens: It’s easy to get distracted and not count everything.
• Fix: Write down each time and add them one by one to check.

• Mistake: Thinking rest time doesn’t count in your plan.
• Why it happens: Rest is important but not always obvious.
• Fix: Rest helps you get better, so include it in your maths!

• Mistake: Adding wrong numbers.
• Why it happens: Sometimes we make silly mistakes when adding.
• Fix: Double-check your addition or use a calculator if needed.

Parent and carer guide

Help your child plan their athletics training by:

• Asking them to tell you what they want to do in their training.
• Writing down each activity and how long it takes.
• Adding up the times together to find the total training time.
• Encouraging them to include rest time so they don’t get too tired.
• Letting them make their own schedule and check it with you.

Remember, planning training is a great way to use maths in real life. It helps kids understand how time works and how to manage it.

Tip: You can also use a timer to help your child see how long each activity takes. This makes it more fun and helps them learn better.

Practice questions

1. How long is your training if you run for 10 minutes, rest for 5 minutes, and practice jumping for 15 minutes?
2. You do 2 rounds of sprint practice, each taking 12 minutes. How long do you spend on sprints?
3. What is the total time if you do a 15-minute warm-up, 10 minutes of practice, and 5 minutes of rest?
4. If you train for 25 minutes on Saturday and 30 minutes on Sunday, how long do you train in total?
5. How long is your training if you run for 8 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, and jump for 12 minutes?

Answers:

1. 10 + 5 + 15 = 30 minutes
2. 12 + 12 = 24 minutes
3. 15 + 10 + 5 = 30 minutes
4. 25 + 30 = 55 minutes
5. 8 + 10 + 12 = 30 minutes

FAQ

How can I use maths to plan my athletics training?

You can use addition to add up the time for each activity and make sure you don’t overdo it. You can also use subtraction to see how much time is left.

Why is rest time important in athletics training?

Rest helps your body recover and get ready for more training. Without rest, you might get tired or even hurt!

Can I plan a training schedule for a whole week?

Yes! You can add up the time for each day to find the total training time for the week.

What if I want to change my training plan?

You can always adjust your plan. Just add or subtract time and check that it still makes sense.

How can I make my training plan more fun?

You can use a chart or draw a picture of your plan. You can also use a timer or play music to make it more exciting!