COD?

From Dan Riley - Conditioning Coach of the Houston Texans (& formerly the Joe Gibbs Redskins):

KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:

1. Football speed is the key to your success, not straight-line track speed.

2. Speed and quickness are abilities that you inherit from your genetic pool.

3. You can't develop more speed than your genetic pool will allow.

4. Increases in speed are often obtained in spite of the training regimen employed.

5. There are no magical potions or gadgets to increase speed.

6. Items that can have an immediate impact on speed are stance, start, and running technique.

7. An explosive start requires several coordinated actions to occur rapidly and simultaneously.

8. You don't get speed through the air, you get it through the ground.

9. Eliminate the vertical component and you'll run faster.

10. You must practice running fast.

INI50 - If you need further elaboration on any point - email me with your question at billmountjoy@yahoo.com

Uni50,

Speed is primarily predicated on two things: 1. STRIDE LENGTH 2. STRIDE FREQUENCY

Many years ago, after discerning that this was a true statement, I also discerned that the Glutes were the primary muscles that were responsible for these two motor actions. The best exercise, IMO, for development of the glutes is the old standby, THE SQUAT. I am quite familiar with the modern thinking that this is a harmful exercise, have listened to all the SCIENTIFIC arguments, etc. and to all of it I say BALONEY. GENETICS, VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR WITHOUT DOUBT! But, to make a blanket statement
like coach Riley made, that you can never exceed the speed allocation dictated by your gene pool, is suspect to me. I certainly do not equate myself on the same plateau as coach Riley, by any means. However, I am a coach with 42 years experience on the field and in that time, I have had the good fortune to coach a lot of VERY FAST ATHLETES! In my opinion, the aerodynamics of the runners body ( based upon the theory that the wind resistance caused by an unsound running start and posture is really the BIGGEST NEMESIS of any runner) I have always taught that the wind is like a big DT standing in front of you with both his hands on your chest holding your forward progress in check, because in essence that is exactly what it does. A runner who's body is in a correct posture, AERODYNAMICALLY, IS LIKE A KNIFE EDGE AND ABLE TO GREATLY REDUCE THAT WIND RESISTANCE BY SLICING THROUGH IT AND THEREFORE GREATLY REDUCING THE FORCE THAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK. To me, that is much more important that your genetic makeup. Just my opinion as always.

Coach Easton