Which cycle is the smallest unit of training planning?

• A. Microcycle
• B. Macrocycle
• C. Mesocycle
• D. Periodisation

Answer: (A)

In training planning, cycles are used to organize how load and recovery are applied over time. The smallest unit is the microcycle, usually about one week long, and it brings together a set of training sessions with a clear focus and a planned progression.

This weekly block is the building block for larger blocks: mesocycles, which span several weeks to a few months, and the macrocycle, which covers the whole season or year. Periodisation is the overall framework that ties all these cycles together to peak at the right times.

Why this fits best: the microcycle is the most specific time frame coaches manipulate to steer adaptations, manage fatigue, and adjust intensity, volume, and recovery from week to week. It provides the granularity needed to implement day-to-day plans while still fitting into the bigger picture of the season. The longer blocks—mesocycle and macrocycle—plan broader goals, and periodisation describes the overall approach, not a single cycle.