Common high-speed running thresholds likely do not correspond to high-speed running in field sports
- Authors: Freeman, Brock , Talpey, Scott , James, Lachlan , Opar, David , Young, Warren
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Vol. 37, no. 7 (2023), p. 1411-1418
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The purpose of this study was to clarify what percentage of maximum speed is associated with various running gaits. Fifteen amateur field sport athletes (age = 23 ± 3.6 years) participated in a series of 55-meter running trials. The speed of each trial was determined by instructions relating to 5 previously identified gait patterns (jog, run, stride, near maximum sprint, and sprint). Each trial was filmed in slow motion (240 fps), whereas running speed was obtained using Global Positioning Systems. Contact time, stride angle, and midstance free-leg knee angle were determined from video footage. Running gaits corresponded with the following running speeds, jogging = 4.51 m·s-1, 56%Vmax, running = 5.41 m·s-1, 66%Vmax,striding = 6.37 m·s-1, 78%Vmax, near maximum sprinting = 7.08 m·s-1, 87%Vmax, and sprinting = 8.15 m·s-1, 100%Vmax. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in stride angle were observed as running speed increased. Significant (p < 0.05) decreases were observed in contact time and midstance free-leg knee angle as running speed increased. These findings suggest currently used thresholds for high-speed running (HSR) and sprinting most likely correspond with jogging and striding, which likely underestimates the true HSR demands. Therefore, a higher relative speed could be used to describe HSR and sprinting more accurately in field sports. © 2023 NSCA National Strength and Conditioning Association. All rights reserved.
Lower body exercise selection across the force-velocity continuum to enhance sprinting performance
- Authors: Young, Warren , Talpey, Scott , Feros, Simon , O'Grady, Mathew , Radford, Christopher
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning Vol. 23, no. (2015), p. 39-42
- Full Text: false
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- Description: BLUF Training for the speed component of sprinting with resistance training requires the use of high velocity horizontally-directed exercises such as speed-bounding and sled sprinting. ABSTRACT The purpose of this article was to evaluate selected resistance training exercises in relation to the force-velocity continuum, with the application to sprinting performance in team sport athletes. The analysis of exercises was done by focussing on the peak velocities reached and comparing this to velocities in sprinting. Many popular resistance training exercises such as jump squats and modifications of the Olympic lifts are used to enhance the explosive muscle qualities required for sprinting. A common characteristic of these exercises is that force application and corresponding body/bar movement is directed vertically upward against gravity. This means that despite using light loads or no extra load, the resulting movements are relatively slow (less than 5 s-1). For example, adding any load to jump squats generally decreases power output compared to jumps with only bodyweight. Therefore, vertically-directed exercises should be considered as being strength-dominated. However, sprinting involves relatively short muscular contractions and considerably faster movement, even over short distances of less than 20 m. To prescribe exercises that are closer to the speed end of the force-velocity continuum, horizontally directed exercises are preferable. Examples include sled sprints and plyometric exercises such as speed-bounding. In a periodised program designed to enhance sprinting performance, vertical exercises such as jump squats and power cleans should be considered as strength-dominated, whereas horizontal exercises should be prescribed when speed qualities need to be emphasised such as in a pre-competition phase.
- Description: BLUF Training for the speed component of sprinting with resistance training requires the use of high velocity horizontally-directed exercises such as speed-bounding and sled sprinting. ABSTRACT The purpose of this article was to evaluate selected resistance training exercises in relation to the force-velocity continuum, with the application to sprinting performance in team sport athletes. The analysis of exercises was done by focussing on the peak velocities reached and comparing this to velocities in sprinting. Many popular resistance training exercises such as jump squats and modifications of the Olympic lifts are used to enhance the explosive muscle qualities required for sprinting. A common characteristic of these exercises is that force application and corresponding body/bar movement is directed vertically upward against gravity. This means that despite using light loads or no extra load, the resulting movements are relatively slow (less than 5 m
Association between leg power and sprinting technique with 20-m sprint performance in elite junior Australian football players
- Authors: Young, Warren , Grace, Steve , Talpey, Scott
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching Vol. 9, no. 5 (2014), p. 1153-1160
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The main purpose of this study was to determine the association between leg power and sprint technique with 20-m sprint performance. Seventy- seven elite junior Australian Rules football players were assessed on a 20-m sprint test, a countermovement jump (CMJ) and a two bound test, and on a new method of quantifying sprint technique from simple video recordings. Technique assessment involved rating 14 points on a scale from 1-5. Players were median-split into faster and slower groups based on their 20-m times, and they were compared for differences in leg power and technique. The faster group was significantly better (p<0.05) in the two-bound test (5.2%) and the technique score (8.2%), but not in the CMJ (p>0.05). A multiple regression indicated that the two-bound test and technique accounted for 37.7% of the variance associated with the 20-m sprint time (p<0.05). It was concluded that the technique assessment tool captured some important characteristics of 20-m sprint performance and could potentially be used to profile or monitor athletes. Further the two-bound test is a more relevant test for developing athletes because of its specificity to sprinting, compared to the CMJ. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR
Positional relationships between various sprint and jump abilities in elite American football players
- Authors: Robbins, Daniel , Young, Warren
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Vol. 26, no. 2 (2012), p. 388-397
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate positional relationships between sprint and jump abilities and body mass in elite college American football players (n = 1,136). Data from the annual National Football League combine over the years 2005-2009 were examined. The measures included for examination were the 9.1-, 18.3-, 36.6-, and flying 18.3-m sprints and the vertical and horizontal jumps. Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to determine the relationships between the tests, and coefficients of determination (r2) were used to determine common variance. With the exception of the relationship between the 9.1-m and the flying 18.3-m sprints, the relationships between all sprints are very strong. Vertical jump ability is more strongly associated with maximum speed, as compared with acceleration. Horizontal jump ability is similarly associated with maximum speed and acceleration. The 9.1-, 18.3-, and flying 18.3-m sprints and the jump tests would appear to measure independent skills. Stationary start sprints up to 36.6 m appear to be heavily influenced by acceleration and may thus measure similar characteristics. The flying 18.3-m sprint is recommended as a measure of maximum speed. Body mass was most strongly associated with performance in the lineman group. When body mass was controlled for, correlations weakened across all the groups. The role of body mass remains unclear. Regardless of sport, the present research supports the notion that the relationships between various sprint and jump abilities warrant positional consideration. Coaches and practitioners will be able to use the findings of this research to better test and monitor athletes requiring different skills. © 2012 National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Comparison of playing positions in elite Australian football: A case study of one club
- Authors: Young, Warren , Burge, Peter , Russell, Andrew , Carlon, Todd
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning Vol. 18, no. 4 (2010), p. 11-13
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Previous research using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to track Australian football (AF) games has used a 1 Hz sampling rate and limited variables to describe game demands. The aim of this study was to compare midfielders and forwards/backs from one elite Australian football club via GPS tracking of games. Game files (n=100) were collected from 19 players (14 midfielders, 5 forwards/backs) and the total distance covered at various speed and acceleration/deceleration zones was analysed. Player positions were statistically compared by one-way ANOVA. Midfielders covered a greater total distance and distance at running speeds between 4-7 m.s. (p<0.05), whereas forwards/backs produced slightly greater maximum running speeds, greater distance sprinting at speeds over 7 m.s, and greater distance peforming high accelerations (p>0.05). The movement demands for midfielders tended towards moderate to fast running speeds whereas forwards/backs displayed a greater proportion of their distance covered at high speed and acceleration/deceleration. It is suggested from the GPS variable that used conditioning should be somewhat indidvidualised to match the specific demands of the playing positions.
- Description: C1
Resistance training for short sprints and maximum-speed sprints
- Authors: Young, Warren , Benton, Dean , Duthie, Grant , Pryor, John
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Strength and Conditioning Journal Vol. 23, no. 2 (2001), p. 7-13
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Specificity of sprint and agility training methods
- Authors: Young, Warren , McDowell, Mark , Scarlett, Bentley
- Date: 2001
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Vol. 15, no. 3 (2001), p. 315-319
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- Description: The purpose of this study was to determine if straight sprint training transferred to agility performance tests that involved various change-of-direction complexities and if agility training transferred to straight sprinting speed. Thirty-six males were tested on a 30-m straight sprint and 6 agility tests with 2-5 changes of direction at various angles. The subjects participated in 2 training sessions per week for 6 weeks using 20-40-m straight sprints (speed) or 20-40-m change-of-direction sprints (3-5 changes of 100°) (agility). After the training period, the subjects were retested, and the speed training resulted in significant improvements (p < 0.05) in straight sprinting speed but limited gains in the agility tests. Generally, the more complex the agility task, the less the transfer from the speed training to the agility task. Conversely, the agility training resulted in significant improvements in the change-of-direction tests (p < 0.05) but no significant improvement (p > 0.05) in straight sprint performance. We concluded that straight speed and agility training methods are specific and produce limited transfer to the other. These findings have implications for the design of speed and agility training and testing protocols.
- Description: 2003003767