Acceleration and Sport Performance

Team sports and individual sports are somewhat different in nature.  Both involve great athleticism, foot speed, strength, power, etc.  A sprinter has to have great acceleration before reaching their top speed which they carry on for a certain distance.  For a team sport, like soccer, great acceleration is key but top speed is very rarely attained, before a change of direction takes place and acceleration is needed once again.  I spend time working with both types of athletes.  At the track club, I focus my work with the sprinters and with the team sports, I focus my work with lacrosse, hockey and soccer.

While many might put their son or daughter in track to gain some speed and conditioning for their team sport, I think they might lack the general knowledge of what kind of speed they truly need.  I too, believe that being involved in track can build up your speed and conditioning for other team events, like hockey, but I also understand that being fast is one thing and being fast is another.  Well, let me clarify. Adrian Peterson, a great NFL running back, is super fast.  Usain Bolt, the great sprinter and world recod holder in the 100 metres and 200 metres, is also super fast.  But I think you would agree that Bolt might not make the best football player and Peterson might not run to speed of Bolt.

 

Like I said above, the team sports need a high degree of acceleration and change of direction speed, while sprinting, you will end up using your top-end speed and don't have a need to stop and change direction.  Acceleration is key for both, but while the sprinter has top end speed to also train for, other athletes really just need to be concerned about their acceleration (among other things, like skill and team strategy).  The faster they are able to get back up to speed after they change direction, the better.  But how do you increase you acceleration?  There are a few different ways to train for acceleration:

Limb loading - weight attachments to extremities to provide overload while sprinting

Uphill running - running at a higher grade than a flat surface, but to too high as to compromise running form

Weighted vests - use of a load to increase sprint times at 10m to 30m

Resisted towing - use of a towing device, such as a sled that the sprinter tows behind while running

All great conditioning tools and ways to increase the acceleration phase of sprinting!!