Post by Coach Campbell on Mar 1, 2013 11:46:41 GMT
Quickness and Speed: What is the Difference
by Dale Baskett
I travel the country month to month installing my progression — designed football speed training system. It deals with quickness and transition speed effectiveness. As teams and their staffs spend a few days learning to use the comprehensive package, I am always asked what's the difference between quickness and speed?
The common thought is that if a player has limb speed (arm and leg cycle frequency) then he has good speed. It's the general thinking of most coaches but it's not always accurate. If you're to gauge speed in general by looking at limb speed when an athlete is moving quickly, you can be seriously deceived. So how do you determine what you are seeing for an accurate assessment of speed?
The Eyeball Test
The eyeball test will fool you so you must validate by timing the athlete to determine velocity. Over time, you will develop an eye for velocity vs. frequency. Fast limb speed and slow time is a dead giveaway to one fact; he's not applying enough force to the ground to move.
Speed and Quickness — Let's Break It Down
High frequency (fast arm-leg rotation) is created because an athlete has fast muscle contraction capacity. The faster a muscle contracts the less force is able to generate. During high velocity sprints the body is traveling very fast; therefore, the power source (leg cycle force application to the surface) has a negative problem. The foot is on and off the ground very rapidly. Therefore the time allowed for force production is limited. Very often why athletes with extremely fast frequency some times have trouble applying enough force to generate sufficient velocity.
An athlete who has trouble with this fact can become more powerful through correct training. One would be installing cyclic ground plyometrics and the correct mechanical function for speed development as applied.
Pure sprint speed relies on good frequency with tremendous force application each step. Limb synchronization is also critical which helps the leg force apply leverage to the surface.
The players that lever the ground well are the ones who have great acceleration capability. Frequency enhancement, if needed, and power can be developed.
by Dale Baskett
I travel the country month to month installing my progression — designed football speed training system. It deals with quickness and transition speed effectiveness. As teams and their staffs spend a few days learning to use the comprehensive package, I am always asked what's the difference between quickness and speed?
The common thought is that if a player has limb speed (arm and leg cycle frequency) then he has good speed. It's the general thinking of most coaches but it's not always accurate. If you're to gauge speed in general by looking at limb speed when an athlete is moving quickly, you can be seriously deceived. So how do you determine what you are seeing for an accurate assessment of speed?
The Eyeball Test
The eyeball test will fool you so you must validate by timing the athlete to determine velocity. Over time, you will develop an eye for velocity vs. frequency. Fast limb speed and slow time is a dead giveaway to one fact; he's not applying enough force to the ground to move.
Speed and Quickness — Let's Break It Down
High frequency (fast arm-leg rotation) is created because an athlete has fast muscle contraction capacity. The faster a muscle contracts the less force is able to generate. During high velocity sprints the body is traveling very fast; therefore, the power source (leg cycle force application to the surface) has a negative problem. The foot is on and off the ground very rapidly. Therefore the time allowed for force production is limited. Very often why athletes with extremely fast frequency some times have trouble applying enough force to generate sufficient velocity.
An athlete who has trouble with this fact can become more powerful through correct training. One would be installing cyclic ground plyometrics and the correct mechanical function for speed development as applied.
Pure sprint speed relies on good frequency with tremendous force application each step. Limb synchronization is also critical which helps the leg force apply leverage to the surface.
The players that lever the ground well are the ones who have great acceleration capability. Frequency enhancement, if needed, and power can be developed.