Maximizing Acceleration and Change of Direction in Sport: A Case Series to Illustrate How the Force-Velocity Profile Provides Additional Information to That Derived from Linear Sprint Time

Andrés Baena-Raya, Manuel A. Rodríguez-Pérez, Pedro Jiménez-Reyes and Alberto Soriano-Maldonado
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Andrés Baena-Raya: Department of Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Manuel A. Rodríguez-Pérez: Department of Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Pedro Jiménez-Reyes: Center for Sports Studies, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Madrid, Spain
Alberto Soriano-Maldonado: Department of Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-7

Abstract: Sprint running and change of direction (COD) present similar mechanical demands, involving an acceleration phase in which athletes need to produce and apply substantial horizontal external force. Assessing the mechanical properties underpinning individual sprint acceleration might add relevant information about COD performance in addition to that obtained through sprint time alone. The present technical report uses a case series of three athletes with nearly identical 20 m sprint times but with different mechanical properties and COD performances. This makes it possible to illustrate, for the first time, a potential rationale for why the sprint force-velocity (FV) profile (i.e., theoretical maximal force (F 0 ), velocity (V 0 ), maximal power output (P max ), ratio of effective horizontal component (RF peak ) and index of force application technique (D RF )) provides key information about COD performance (i.e., further to that derived from simple sprint time), which can be used to individualize training. This technical report provides practitioners with a justification to assess the FV profile in addition to sprint time when the aim is to enhance sprint acceleration and COD performance; practical interpretations and advice on how training interventions could be individualized based on the athletes’ differential sprint mechanical properties are also specified.

Keywords: acceleration; mechanical properties; explosive performance; assessment; team sports (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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