The distance covered by track and field athletes in short-sprint competitions ranges from 60 to 200 metres. Short-sprint coaches employ periodised training programmes in order to increase performance that incorporate strength training, plyometrics, and sprint practise. Periodised training methods are believed to be more successful than non-periodised (NP) programmes in improving overall performance of elite short-sprinters. Although periodisation has garnered popularity in the literature and sport science, its application to sprinting is limited in developing countries, particularly in Sri Lanka. Therefore, current research has mainly focused on periodised strength and conditioning (PSC) for short-sprint athletes in Sri Lanka; a developing country. Using a sequential exploratory mixed-method design, this thesis consists of four complimentary studies providing insight into how short-sprint coaches in Sri Lanka might structure and impact their athletes' short-sprint performance.

The first phase of the explorative study (Study 1) revealed that coaches reported minimal or inadequate knowledge of periodised training and consequently, there did appear to be a gap between coach knowledge of periodised training, but additionally in regard to general training methodology; including aspect such as prescribing strength and speed training loads and, monitoring of training loads. Given the inadequate knowledge of periodised training highlighted by the first study, the second phase comprised of two separate but related concurrent 24-weeks quantitative studies. Experimental manipulations in Study 2 sought to examine the effects 24- weeks of periodised strength and conditioning among short-sprint athletes in Sri Lanka. Results indicated that participants who undertook PSC significantly improved in all the tests at mid-and post-testing (p < 0.05) compared to NP. As a result, PSC training appear beneficial for shortsprinters to maximise reserve capacity in sprint performances. Study 3 assessed the coach and athlete perceptions of the PSC programme concurrently with Study 2. Results indicated that the PSC programme is a fully applicable method for short-sprint athletes in Sri Lanka. As such, Study 4 sought to investigate coaches’ perceptions on the impact of a formal coach education (CE) setting designed to promote short-sprint coaches in Sri Lanka on their coaching practice. Finding revealed that coaches believed knowledge acquired through the CE programme influenced their coaching practices.

Overall, the results of this mixed methods study attempt to increase the knowledge about, and application of, periodisation and training methods among Sri Lankan coaches in Sri Lanka, particularly among elite-level coaches working with short-sprint athletes, which likely would reflect the success of Sri Lankan short-sprinters in International competitions in the years to come.