The Power Retention Model™
Performance is not defined by how high power peaks—but by how well it is sustained.
⸻
The Problem
Most training systems are built around maximizing peak output.
• Higher jump
• Faster bar speed
• Bigger single effort
But sport performance rarely depends on a single expression.
It depends on the ability to:
• Reproduce output
• Under fatigue
• Without degradation
This is where peak-focused systems break down.
Peak output creates potential., but retention determines performance.
⸻
The Insight
Power is not a single event—it is a repeated demand.
The question is not:
• “How high can output go?”
The question is:
• “How much of that output survives repeated exposure?”
If output rapidly declines it:
• Won’t transfer
• Won’t stabilize
• Won’t hold under pressure
If retention is not developed:
👉 Peak Output Trap™
⸻
The Model
The Power Retention Model defines performance as the:
• Ability to sustain high power output across repeated efforts.
It consists of four components:
1) Peak Output
The highest level of power an athlete can produce in a fresh state.
• Necessary, but insufficient
• Establishes ceiling, not performance
⸻
2) Re-expression Capacity
The ability to reproduce power after initial fatigue.
• Determines early-stage transfer
• Often where breakdown begins
⸻
3) Retention Capacity
The ability to sustain output across continued exposure.
• Defines durability of performance
• Critical for sport application
⸻
4) Output Decay Profile
The pattern and rate at which power declines over time or sets.
• Steep decay → low transfer
• Stable curve → high transfer
⸻
The Rule
• Performance is defined by the consistency of output—not the magnitude of a single effort.
⸻
What This Changes
Traditional View:
• Peak = performance
Power Retention Model:
• Consistency = performance
• Peak is only relevant if it can be retained
⸻
Example
Athlete A
• Extremely high peak output
• Rapid decline across sets
• Inconsistent performance
Athlete B
• Slightly lower peak
• Maintains output across efforts
• Stable performance
Result:
Athlete B demonstrates greater usable power
⸻
Why This Matters
Sport requires:
• Repeated efforts
• Under fatigue
• With minimal drop-off
If power cannot be retained:
• It cannot be relied upon
⸻
Application
The Power Retention Model guides:
1) Evaluation
• Identify whether output is stable or degrading
2) Programming
Prioritize:
• Repeatability
• Fatigue resistance
• Output consistency
3) Progress Tracking
Measure improvements in:
• Retention
• Decay rate
• Re-expression quality
To understand how retention fits into the full system:
👉 Power Performance System™
⸻
Supporting Frameworks
The model is applied through:
• 3 Sets Diagnostic Framework → identifies retention
• Drop-Off Threshold Rule → defines acceptable decline
• Retainable Power Index (RPI) → quantifies retention
• Output Retention Programming (ORP) → develops it
Together, these form the Evans Velo Zone™ system
Key EVZ Definitions:
• Retention: ability to maintain a high percentage of output across repeated exposures
• Durability: ability to sustain output over time and across repeated exposures
• Translatable Power: power that can be sustained and expressed consistently under sport conditions
• Retainable Output: level of output that can be sustained across repeated exposures without significant decline
👉 See full EVZ Definitions Framework
⸻
Build Power That Holds Under Pressure
• Apply the Power Retention Model to your training
• Download the Power Retention Guide
• Access the Certification Framework
⸻
Developed through:
• High-level Olympic weightlifting performance
• Applied coaching across populations
• System-based modeling of transferable power
