Tuesday, July 17, 2012

PREPARING FOR FALL TRAINING: The Starting Point

In my last Blog, I set the stage for planning a Fall Track Preparation Program through asking a series of questions with the principle one being “What specific Bio-Motor Abilities need to be addressed in the training plans for sprinters/hurdlers and jumpers ?”. In retrospect, I would replace the word addressed, with “developed”. So, in order to “develop” the proper Bio-Motor Abilities for Sprinters/Hurdlers /Jumpers we should start with identifying them. Sprint/Hurdle and Jump performances are largely dependent on the foundational element required in the three event categories: SPEED. In order to develop or improve SPEED, we must improve 1) Stride Length and 2) Stride Frequency. Making a list of Bio-Motor Abilities required for improvements in these two components of SPEED will give us a starting point for the areas we will want to focus on in the Fall Program. STRIDE LENGTH + STRIDE FREQUENCY Strength + Technique + Flexibility Coordination + Speed + Specific Endurance Now we can further identify specific elements of each of the above Bio-Motor Abilities as shown below: STRENGTH + TECHNIQUE + FLEXIBILITY Maximum Strength > Sprint Mechanics> Specific Mobility> Elastic Strength> Hurdle Mechanics > Explosive Strength> Jump Mechanics> Core Strength> Lifting Technique> SPECIFIC ENDURANCE Glycolytic Short Speed Endurance> Anaerobic Short Speed Endurance> Speed Endurance> Long Speed Endurance (Special I,II)> Specific Endurance> Explosive Strength Endurance> This list is sufficient for most coaches to use as a guide for planning their Fall Program. Close examination of the interdependence of the required abilities to overall performance should reinforce the importance of SPEED, TECHNIQUE and STRENGTH as the main focal points of EACH week during Fall. In addition, TEACHING of movement patterns need to produce efficient mechanical efficiency in Sprinting, Hurdling, Jumping and Lifting techniques SHOULD BE THE GOAL. In order to properly develop the critical Bio-Motor abilities, while teaching and/or reinforcing good mechanics, the coach must identify basic, intermediate and advanced exercises/drills/training methods that best develop SPEED, STRENGTH and TECHNIQUE. These drills, exercises and training methods are the tools with which the coach will build the Fall Training Program geared towards the needs of his/her INDIVIDUALS. In the next Blog, I promise, I will share Circuits that can be used for General Development of SPEED, STRENGTH and TECHNIQUE. These Circuits are a great way of introducing all the elements of training for each of the Bio-Motor abilities and providing a means with which coaches can challenge Intermediate or Advanced athletes while spending more teaching time with beginning athletes.
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THE ROLE OF STRENGTH/POWER TRAINING IN SPRINT ACCELERATION

THE ROLE OF STRENGTH/POWER TRAINING

IN SPRINT ACCELERATION: PART ONE


In order for successful acceleration mechanics to be performed, the sprinter must execute a technically efficient and powerful start, so as to allow for the optimal body lean and posture necessary for a sound entry into the acceleration phase.

The role of Strength/Power Training in all phases of the sprint race cannot be underestimated. Any discussion of Acceleration Mechanics specific to teaching sprinters to properly execute the Acceleration Phase of the sprint race must take into account the relationship between proper mechanics and the strength/power required to do so.

In “The Mechanics of Sprinting and Hurdling” (Dr. R. Mann, self published, 2007), Dr. Ralph Mann points out several elemental relationships between strength and the ability to be more mechanically efficient or productive in the various areas/phases of the sprint race.

Dr. Mann cites three specific examples of this Strength/Mechanical Efficiency relationship affecting a proper Sprint Start and the ability to perform a successful acceleration phase.

1) Greater strength allows for the athlete to produce greater horizontal forces in the Start (pg. 52).

2) Greater horizontal force produced at the Start allows for the sprinter to stay lower at the Start (pg.52).

3) Success in the short sprint race is determined by the ability of the sprinter to generate great amounts of explosive strength at the proper time. (pg. 91).

Mann’s analysis of sprinters found that weaker athletes tend to “pop up” during the Start because lesser amounts of horizontal force produced at the Start creates the need for the athlete to move the center of gravity vertically in order to maintain balance.

Given the need for the “falling or leaning” body position to properly execute a successful acceleration phase, block start mechanics must be incorporated into the drills used in teaching proper acceleration mechanics.

Glen Mills, coach of Usain Bolt and many world-class sprinters, alluded to the role of strength in the acceleration phase (termed Drive by many coaches) in an interview where he echoed the statements by Dr. Mann; “…the athlete has to stay in the crouch position while developing maximum power. If the athlete does not have the strength to carry the drive phase long enough then it has to be aborted so he can go into the transition earlier.”

Incorporation of relevant MAXIMUM STRENGTH (also termed Static), EXPLOSIVE STRENGTH (also termed Dynamic) AND ELASTIC STRENGTH development exercises into the overall sprint-training program cannot be argued in view of the proven interdependence between Strength and the ability to optimally perform the proven principals of Sprint Mechanics in all phases of the short sprint race.

Since Part 4 of this Acceleration Article will deal with Elastic Strength (or Plyometric Training), this section will focus on Maximum Strength and Explosive Strength Training exercises proven to be relevant to proper execution of Start, Acceleration and Maximum Velocity phases of the sprint race.

Both Maximum Strength and Explosive Strength exercises must be used in order to address both Intramuscular and Intermuscular coordination factors. Through the proper mixing of Maximum and Explosive Strength exercises, Recruitment, Rate Coding and Synchronization can be optimally developed through use of exercises that coordinate the amount of force, speed of movement and precision of movement patterns applicable to effective sprint mechanics. Use of exercises that cover the entire Force-Velocity Curve, with an emphasis on moving the curve to left over time, cannot be done with a proper mix of Maximum, Explosive and Elastic Strength exercises.

There seems to be a considerable amount of confusion among coaches about the need for Maximum Strength exercises to be included with Explosive Strength exercises in the training of sprinters. The idea that lifting heavy loads in a relatively slow manner is of no use to the high speed movements of sprinters needs to revisited in light of the specific research findings provided in “Strength and Power in Sport”, (P.V. Komi, IOC Medical Commission, 1992). Some of these specific findings are listed below.

1) High threshold Fast Twitch Glycolytic (FTb) Muscle Units are NOT recruited UNTIL force exceeds 90% of Maximum Strength (pg. 250).

2) Training with high velocity movements increases high velocity strength (pg. 263).

3) The load to be overcome and the movement time are the main factors in developing Rate of Force Development. If the load to be overcome is light, IRFD (Initial Rate of Force Development) predominates. If the load to be overcome is high, then MRFD (Maximum Rate of Force Dev.) predominates. For movements with a duration of 250ms or less (sprinting), BOTH IRFD and MRFD are the main factors (pg. 381).

4) Maximal Strength and Power are not distinct entities. Maximum Strength is the basic quality that influences power performance (pg. 383).

5) Improvements in Power have been shown to result from high intensity strength training, jump training under increased stretching loads and movement specific exercises requiring muscular coordination training (pg. 384, 385).

6) The use of training methods involving, maximal and near maximal contractions, cause a remarkable increase in RFD accompanied by an increase in movement speed (pg. 392).

7) RFD directed training should take precedence in the Preparation Phases but not be completely eliminated at any time of the training year (pg. 392).


Understanding the neural adaptations to the various strength training methods will allow for an intelligent selection of specific exercises and their proper integration into the overall training plan of each individual.

Strength/Power Training Plans must address the training age of the individuals within the sprint group. Beginning/Novice sprinters require different considerations than Intermediate and Advanced athletes. For example, research shows that Maximum Strength increases will also lead to increases in Power and the ability to generate force at fast speeds, especially in less experienced athletes. Training plans for Beginning/Novice athletes should contain more emphasis on Maximum Strength development and the teaching of proper lifting mechanics.

PART TWO: IN FUTURE POSTING