Acceleration and maximal velocity are two factors that are key for any position in football and can determine success in many situations out on the field. This article will review several aspects of sprint mechanics and training to enhance linear (straight-ahead) speed for football players.
This book excerpt is an overview of the fundamentals to sprinting mechanics and technique. It also covers starting, acceleration, drive phase, recovery phase, and deceleration.
In this Bridge the Gap Lecture from the 2019 National Conference, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Oregon, Jimmy Radcliffe, discusses the specifics of deceleration, change of direction, and reacceleration through ground negotiation, postural control, and specific running mechanics.
CoachesExercise TechniqueProgram designAccelerationRunning MechanicsDecelerationHip DisplacementPower CutSpeed CutChange of Direction
Athletes in field and court sports require reactive agility—they must accelerate, decelerate, and change direction in a constantly changing environment. These requirements result in technical differences between sprinting in a field or court sport and sprinting the 100-m.
CoachesExercise Techniquespeed developmentsprintingsprinting for soccersprinting intervalssprinting for basketball