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Home | Speed and Agility
 
Speed and Agility
Get Fast and Agile!

Welcome to the Speed, Agility and Quickness Homepage!

We'll cover speed and agility training for all sports. Follow these programs and you'll be faster in no time!

Should Sprinters Squat? Part 1
By Rob Williams, MS, CSCS, PES
Over the past few months there has been a lot of controversy around the back squat and it made me do a lot of thinking, this was shortly after I recorded a PR (personal record) in the back squat, 405lb bare foot with no belt at 200lb, I felt like I was starting to get strong, based on the strength athlete standard of you're only strong when you can squat 2x's your bodyweight. Then a respected strength coach named Michael Boyle put out a video suggesting that back squats should be removed from all strength training programming based on the fact that the primary weak link is the lower back. To make matters more interesting internationally respected strength coach and physical therapist Gray Cook also argues that the back squat is only useful for lifting as much external load (weight) as possible but for athletics the focus should be on function. . . . keep reading
The Truth About Speed, NFL Combines and the 40 Yard Dash!
Mike Boyle
Speed is the stuff of urban legend. Deion Sanders supposedly showed up at the NFL Combine, ran a 4.2 and went home. We routinely hear of high school kids who purportedly run 4.3's and 4.4's. The stor . . . keep reading
Does It All Come Down to the First Ten Yards?
Michael Boyle
I have always been a ten yard dash proponent. When we test speed, regardless of sport we test the ten yard dash. In fact, I wrote an article previously that questioned whether we really ever tested speed in most team sports. If we choose to be specific, what we really evaluate with tests like the 40 yard dash is acceleration. The best sprinters in the world accelerate for up to sixty meters. That means that each ten yard split continues to get lower up to sixty meters in a world-class sprint race. A forty yard dash is a test of acceleration ability, not speed if we want to get our physics right.
. . .
keep reading
False Step Acceleration: Friend or Foe?
By Todd Brown, CCS
Using data-driven analysis, the author breaks down the effectiveness of using a "false," or backward, first step as an acceleration tool. His findings may surprise you. . . . keep reading
The ABC's for Increased Running Speed in the Post-Operative Knee Athlete
Robert A. Panariello MS, PT, ATC, CSCS
The ABC's for Increased Running Speed in the Post-Operative Knee Athlete Robert A. Panariello MS, PT, ATC, CSCS The advances of Athletic Performance Training Techniques utilized by the Perform . . . keep reading
How to Use Sled Training to Dramatically Improve Speed and Acceleration
Mike Boyle
How to Use Sled Training to Dramatically Improve Speed and Acceleration Discover why EVERY athlete must incorporate sled training into your sports training programs and workouts. . . . keep reading
The Introduction of Closed System Drills to Improve Initial Accelerative Sprint At Springfield College.
Dan Liburd
My interest in investigating sprint training techniques for field sports was mainly influenced by two separate incidents: an article in the New York Times on speed movement titled, "The First Step for the Knicks: Learn the Right Way to Run" and my recent coaching experience with a DII Field Hockey program. The author reports on how New York Knicks Strength and Conditioning Coach Greg Brittenham employed sprint training exercises to educate his NBA athletes on correct running form. Coach Brittenham provides insight into coaching philosophy by explaining the importance of sprinting in basketball. He offers an example of where good sprint mechanics are necessary in the game of basketball. He states: . . . keep reading
Reactive Agility Training
Tyler Fagan
Reactive agility may be the most underrated and underused training method for athletes. Think about it, how often in a game does Allen Iverson or Ladanian Tomlinson know where a defender will be, how fast they will be attacking them, and from what angle? The answer is they don't. They rely on their gifts of instinct and reaction to their environment to make a highlight move. Moves like this cannot be taught, you either have it or you don't, right?
Wrong! . . .
keep reading
How Do I Get Faster?
Justin Levine
Audio Interview Included
The beloved question most trainers get all the time. If people only knew the answer you were about to give them before hand, they might not ask. I have had the typical overbearing father walk into my office and demand a 4 week program to get their son or daughter faster and quicker. Four weeks! I usually chuckle when he says this and then I go into my lecture of what it takes to become a better athlete. People are always amazed when I start talking about work ethic, consistency and years of work of nutritional habits and discipline. You would think they are basic principles but people do not understand. They want quick results. I always ask that same father, "Does your son/daughter want this as much as you do?" When children are children (17 and under), it is so crucial to get them to understand the more important reasons they should be working out: Instill healthy lifestyle habits and hard work ethic traits. Ok, I know there are two goals there, but you get the point. Once those goals are understood then increasing performance, becoming a stronger athlete, or getting faster all can be looked at. . . .
keep reading
New Training Techniques
Jeffrey M. McBride, PhD
Some great research brought to our attention by Bob Alejo. New Training Techniques Jeffrey M. McBride, PhD Associate Profe . . . keep reading
Multidirectional Movement Training - Part I
Anthony Lomando
We all know that soccer is random and chaotic in nature and a high degree of agility, quickness and movement skill is necessary for meeting the physical demands of the game. A study of player movements during Premiership Games found that dependant upon position, between 20-30 percent of purposeful movements performed during a match are multidirectional movements. How efficient and effective our soccer players move in all directions and transition between movements through acceleration and deceleration qualities, determines their level of agility . . . keep reading
Defending the Sagittal Plane
By: Keats Snideman CSCS, LMT, NMT
Look at any current popular fitness magazine or journal and you're bound to find an article raving about the benefits of functional or "mutli-dimensional" training. To make sure we're all on the same page, let's have a quick review over what these specific planes are and how they are defined. . . . keep reading
Just Some Thoughts from the Forum …on the Miracles of Yoga and Pilates.
Michael Boyle and The Forum Community
Originally published as a michaelboyle.biz newsletter “I personal train a couple of pilates instructors. It's a great learning experience for all of us. One of the discoveries that I found with th . . . keep reading
Training the Two Sport High School Athlete
Michael Boyle
A big part of my concept for strengthcoach.com is being responsive to the needs of the readers. Last week we received a question about training a two sport high school athlete. . . . keep reading
Classifications of Single Leg Knee Dominant Exercise - A New Look at An Old Idea
Michael Boyle
Where many strength coaches and trainers previously relied on bilateral exercises like squats and leg presses we now regularly utilize exercises like lunges and one leg squats. . . . keep reading
The Boxing Footwork Drill Video
Rob Pilger
Check out the video clip of Rob Pilger showing you the proper boxing footwork drill! . . . keep reading
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