pelvic rotation

    Posted In: Sprints

        • Member
          10eventer on October 21, 2004 at 2:43 am #9934

          I coach a 16 year old male 100m runner who has only running competitively for 2 years. Video taken from several meets showed that after the transition phase he opens up his hips as he is driving off the ground. (ex. pushing off right foot and rotating pelvis clockwise. Does anybody know if this a flexability or core strength issue or if it is a common technique flaw with inexperienced sprinters? If this is a problem how can it be fixed?

        • Participant
          Todd Lane on October 21, 2004 at 6:12 am #34190

          There is oscillation that occurs in this area as part of the natural running motion.

          My question would be is what is your viewing point when you see this? Perpendicular, head on, behind?

          My multitude of answers would be- could be just fine what athlete does or could be a technical, could be flex, could be strength.

        • Member
          10eventer on October 21, 2004 at 6:05 pm #34191

          my viewing point is from the profile. the reason that I was concerned with the oscillation is because it looks like it is making him break at the hips and get into that sitting position. it just seems like he isn’t ever cycling from that tall position because of it. thanks for the response.

        • Participant
          Todd Lane on October 21, 2004 at 6:44 pm #34192

          I may have read your initial post wrong- are you saying that there is anterior rotation or down?

        • Keymaster
          Mike Young on October 22, 2004 at 1:25 pm #34193

          It sounds to me like a case of overpushing. While the pelvic rotation you refer to is actually beneficial as Todd mentioned, if it is excessive it becomes too much of a good thing and can harm performance. In my observation, when I see this, it’s usually from an athlete overpushing in an attempt to apply more horizontal forces to the ground. It’s important to remember that as counter-intuitive as it may seem, top running speed is more a product of vertical rather than horizontal force application and as a result, it’s important that athletes attempt to keep their toe off point as close to under their hips as possible and their swing phase mechanics in front of their body (rather than behind) as much as possible.

          ELITETRACK Founder

        • Member
          10eventer on October 29, 2004 at 8:46 pm #34194

          mike your right, it does look like he is trying to push just a little long. thanks for the cue about the toes. we do some of seagrave’s drills in practice…ankling, quick fire, and buildups. do you have any drills to work on this?

        • Keymaster
          Mike Young on November 1, 2004 at 9:05 am #34195

          I’m not a super big fan of using drills for technical modification in the sprints and I can’t say I use anything that Seagrave doesn’t use. I’d just suggest you try to impress on the runner the importance of feeling bouncy and applying vertical forces rather than horizontal forces……this should solve your problem.

          ELITETRACK Founder

        • Participant
          Todd Lane on November 3, 2004 at 7:38 am #34196

          I fall in the same path as Mike as far as drills for technical carry over,,,

          you may want to try stair runs to teach/feel the vertical nature of sprinting
          and could also try cueing as simply as ‘shorten up’ in the sprint step which may set up a not as long push.

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