Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

how important do you guys think top speed is for the 40yd dash?

id say that top speed aint that important here.  depends a bit on your acceleration ability,
but top speed is usually reached around meter 40-60,  so ive heard…

In such a short race, I think top speed is important, but acceleration should be focused on a little more.  Like Flow said, you don't really reach top speed til about 40, and by then, the race is over.

i agree with both of you guys, but what if the athlete 10-20-40yd times dont match, for example his 10 and 20 is fast but he lack the last 20?

could be that the athlete has a weird transition in body position.  hard to say without seeing.  for example if he´s popping up the upper body or head in those last yards.  could help to do a few really smooth runs whre  he "lets it happen"
without forcing anything.  maybe hed find his balance,  being able to accelerate smooth throughout the distance

very good point.

utfootball4 - 07 May 2006 09:02 PM

how important do you guys think top speed is for the 40yd dash?

I think it's behind acceleration mechanics and low end power.

Flow - 07 May 2006 10:52 PM

id say that top speed aint that important here.  depends a bit on your acceleration ability,
but top speed is usually reached around meter 40-60,  so ive heard…

While top sprinters reach top end speed by about 50m lesser performers reach top end speed MUCH sooner. This is partly due to the higher top end speed of elite performers and also due to an intentional effort to control their race distribution. Most high schoolers reach top speed by 20-25m as I'd imagine most footballers do too.

mike - 12 May 2006 06:32 PM

Flow - 07 May 2006 10:52 PM

id say that top speed aint that important here. depends a bit on your acceleration ability,
but top speed is usually reached around meter 40-60, so ive heard…

While top sprinters reach top end speed by about 50m lesser performers reach top end speed MUCH sooner. This is partly due to the higher top end speed of elite performers and also due to an intentional effort to control their race distribution. Most high schoolers reach top speed by 20-25m as I'd imagine most footballers do too.

i think you are right mike, what can be done to fix this?

mike - 12 May 2006 06:29 PM

utfootball4 - 07 May 2006 09:02 PM

how important do you guys think top speed is for the 40yd dash?

I think it's behind acceleration mechanics and low end power.

what do  you mean low end power?

utfootball4 - 12 May 2006 06:34 PM

mike - 12 May 2006 06:32 PM

Flow - 07 May 2006 10:52 PM

id say that top speed aint that important here. depends a bit on your acceleration ability,
but top speed is usually reached around meter 40-60, so ive heard…

While top sprinters reach top end speed by about 50m lesser performers reach top end speed MUCH sooner. This is partly due to the higher top end speed of elite performers and also due to an intentional effort to control their race distribution. Most high schoolers reach top speed by 20-25m as I'd imagine most footballers do too.

i think you are mike, what can be done to fix this?

I don't necessarily think it's a problem (at least not for football players). If what's really important is how fast you are to 10 yds, 20 yds, 40yds, etc. then you'd better get up to top end speed fast. I think it would be more accurate to state that these individuals need and have great accelerative abilities and need and have less top end speed abilities.

utfootball4 - 12 May 2006 06:34 PM

what do  you mean low end power?

Starting strength / power, ability to overcome one's own inertia. Think heavy squatting and power cleaning.

mike - 12 May 2006 06:32 PM

Flow - 07 May 2006 10:52 PM

id say that top speed aint that important here. depends a bit on your acceleration ability,
but top speed is usually reached around meter 40-60, so ive heard…

While top sprinters reach top end speed by about 50m lesser performers reach top end speed MUCH sooner. This is partly due to the higher top end speed of elite performers and also due to an intentional effort to control their race distribution. Most high schoolers reach top speed by 20-25m as I'd imagine most footballers do too.

mike im tryint to understand this so if im running and my coach sees me run when will he know my top speed is reached. So in the start if my turnover is going fast then it slows down around 25m is that where it is reached the top speed? Im tryin to comprehend top speed.

senri - 13 May 2006 12:46 PM

mike im tryint to understand this so if im running and my coach sees me run when will he know my top speed is reached. So in the start if my turnover is going fast then it slows down around 25m is that where it is reached the top speed? Im tryin to comprehend top speed.

Eye-balling the specific moment you reach top end speed can be quite difficult to the untrained eye. If you really want to know mark the track at 5m segments and video your running with a digital camera. Knowing the frame rate of the video you can then take auto-equivalent timing splits for each 5m segment and figure out where you hit top end speed. Another method is to use a laser beam timing gate system with multiple gates at 5 or 10m segments. I've used both methods for some of my clients and the info can be very useful.

As a side note, you're stride frequency when accelerating is backward. Stride frequency should start off slower and should gradually increase as you reach top end speed.