We are limited by the NCAA in how many hours per week we may train the players. Thus, the current split is executed out of necessity. Having 2 opportunities for intensive sessions obviously necessitates that a greater volume of this type of work be executed per session as opposed to having 3 intensive sessions which provides for greater workload distribution. In either case, however, we have 2 low intensive sessions (because we’re not counting on anything being done over the weekend).
So, because we don’t train on Wednesdays I’m able to take slightly greater liberties on the Tuesday (extensive) session because they have the next day off; and this also obviously applies to the extensive Friday session which precedes the two day weekend recovery opportunity.
The greater distribution of the weekly workload across all training sessions is highly compatible with GPP (as Charlie explained extensively). By definition, the CNS intensive work conducted during GPP is less intensive in its form then it will be later; thus it’s only logical to disperse the workload across more training sessions in order to lessen the stress of each individual session.
As to your last question, rather than thinking in terms team sport vs Olympic sport, it is more wise to think physiologically and compare the GPP of multi-motor regime disciplines vs that of more singular/less complicated motor regime disciplines. In so doing, one will observe that there are more considerations to make when planning the training of the multi-motor regime athlete as the demands of the less complex motor regime disciplines typically represent just one component of the necessary abilities of the multi-motor regime athlete.
As to the approach taken in constructing the GPP, we’d have to compare specific disciplines to do justice to the conversation; however, in general I’d probably characterize the differences in the GPP to come more in the shape of breadth versus height.
It’s also important to note that there is a good argument against the need for a true GPP period for athletes of certain qualification who compete in certain disciplines. Wolfgang Ritzdorf and Ivan Abadjiev are two esteemed coaches who have presented very interested arguments in this regard.