I get asked that this alot. Just for anybody that want`s to know, sprinters are born and not made with fast muscle fibers. Most kids that hit the 4.5, 4.4. and 4.2 fortys carrie that gene or inherited from there dad or mom, but all athetes can use practice and specific training to improve the components of speed - reaction time and movement time. Rraction time is how long it takes to initiate a movement, and movement time is the interval from the start to the end of the movement. You can enhanced your reaction time by useing speed reaction practice drills. And movement time can be enhanced by a program of stretching, strength and power training, form training, and specific speed training. Good luck.

Poor form destroys more 40's than anything. You can train all day, but you must train the 'right' way and work on running the 'right' way. I have seen kids that were lightning quick, but when it came to the 40, their form was horrid. When I was a freshmen, I dropped my 40 time by .4 of a second in 1- 2 days just by learning how to actually run the right way. Combine that with a strong work ethic and almost anyone can improve their speed.

 

When I got to college, coaches tweaked my form even more. But everytime it helped me get faster so I didn't complain!

 

Yes, some people are just born faster than others. But I have outrun those who probably had more natural ability than me, but did not have my work ethic and proper technique. If they had what I had in those respects, they could have smoked me.

Oyeah, good work ethhic, key, along with proper techniques, a must, Im feeling your point, Mountain Thunder. One last point for the kids thats adding alittle intensity to there quest for speed. To build speed endurance, gradually increase sprint length while decreasing the rest between sprints. You know the old saying, ''Speed is an environment and one must become acclimated to it.

Speed is technically a very simple equation:

 

Stride length x Stride frequency = Speed

If you want to improve your 40, first work on the pro shuttle. If you develop the quickness, that will only help improve your stride frequency as Mountian Thunder points out. Plus, in Football, some coaches like a very good shuttle time with a decent 40.

Get to a speed and acceleration training center. They will put you on a program that will decrease your time. These services cost varies, so check around. Your coach or school athletic trainer may be able to help more than you can imagine. I'm sure they will know of a facility in your area. I did one years ago and they dropped my time over .5 in no time for much of the reasons others have stated. 40X's are deffinetly centered around form. Most people can drop a few tenths just by working on starts alone.

 

Good luck.

What part of the state are you in?

Get to a speed and acceleration training center. They will put you on a program that will decrease your time. These services cost varies, so check around. Your coach or school athletic trainer may be able to help more than you can imagine. I'm sure they will know of a facility in your area. I did one years ago and they dropped my time over .5 in no time for much of the reasons others have stated. 40X's are deffinetly centered around form. Most people can drop a few tenths just by working on starts alone.

 

Good luck.

What part of the state are you in?

 

The start kills a lot of potential good 40's. :thumb:

The start kills a lot of potential good 40's. :thumb:

It was the main reason mine was as good as it was...

It was the main reason mine was as good as it was...

 

:thumb:

 

Same here. It helped me a ton. Although they never would let me run the 40 from starting blocks! I really would have liked that! But the start and having a coach actually show me how to run instead of just saying 'you have to get faster'. I don't see enough coaches teaching their kids how to run these days. It will help them in their speed, their confidence and possibly with some, maybe help them get looked at by even small colleges who may not have considered them at a .2 to .3 slower time.

 

I wished we would have run a pro shuttle in my days (early 1980's). I would like to have seen how quick my times could have been. But alas, I can only speculate as now I would lucky to finish it one time! :cry: All we did were 40's and 10's.

I went from 4.7 to 4.45 in pads while in high school by simply learning how to run properly. It helps tremendously to use a full "sprinters" stride.

GET a video and do the work !!!!!!! Yes , they make 'em. Pylos, etc. all you need for about 40 bucks

Speed is technically a very simple equation:

 

Stride length x Stride frequency = Speed

You are very accurate with your equation, but I had alittle sport biomechanics and motor learning in my days as well as being one of the fastest guys in the state.

Power clean, Russian legs lifts & Full Squates. These 3 explosion lifts will increase your speed as well as anything.

I get asked that this alot. Just for anybody that want`s to know, sprinters are born and not made with fast muscle fibers. Most kids that hit the 4.5, 4.4. and 4.2 fortys carrie that gene or inherited from there dad or mom, but all athetes can use practice and specific training to improve the components of speed - reaction time and movement time. Rraction time is how long it takes to initiate a movement, and movement time is the interval from the start to the end of the movement. You can enhanced your reaction time by useing speed reaction practice drills. And movement time can be enhanced by a program of stretching, strength and power training, form training, and specific speed training. Good luck.

 

 

LOOKS LIKE YOU MAY WANT TO WORK ON YOUR TYPING, AND SPELLING MORE THAN SPEED.

Play fast. More and more college coaches are fading away from those 40 times. some of your greatest NFL players don't have blazing 40 times (Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders). Deion was fast, but he had a great quote "Great footwork and an average 40 can be better than a fast 40 and poor footwork". sprint against people who are faster often. It worked for me.