Lee Bell | Demystifying Fatigue Management Strategies in Training

Lee Bell | Demystifying Fatigue Management Strategies in Training

From NSCA’s Coaching Podcast by NSCA

January 30, 2026

About this episode

Lee Bell discusses the complexities of fatigue management strategies, particularly deloading, in training and its implications for athletes and coaches.

Deloading is widespread, but its application is often inconsistent and undervalued. That gap caught Lee Bell’s attention after discovering there was no consensus definition. Bell is a Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University who focuses on the deloading, overtraining, and overreaching spectrum. He explains how overtraining and overreaching are sometimes used synonymously. That confusion is compounded further by associations with overtraining syndrome (OTS). Instead, Bell frames overreaching as a “window of opportunity” when used intentionally. For example, a planned overreach can be functional or non-functional based on recovery. Bell also examines opportunities and tradeoffs in modern periodization models. He contrasts flexible and fluid approaches with more traditional, rigid programming; each approach has implications for athlete trust and recovery. Looking ahead, Bell envisions a collaborative approach to sport science driven by coaching needs. He reflects on recent coaching survey data and the key themes that emerged for the future. Hear his perspective on next steps in velocity-based training, individualized periodization, and variability. Reach out…

People in this episode

Host: Eric McMahon

Guest: Lee Bell

Topics covered

  • fatigue management
  • deloading
  • overtraining
  • periodization
  • athlete recovery
  • coaching needs

Keywords

  • fatigue management
  • deloading
  • overtraining syndrome
  • periodization models
  • athlete trust
  • recovery strategies
  • velocity-based training

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sheffield Hallam University

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