Running On Empty

FOOTBALL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN TIMING PLAYERS in the 40 yard dash for years and making evaluations based on the results. But while the test is time-honored, is it really an accurate assessment of how fast a player will be on the field on any given Saturday?As an expert in speed development for football players, I feel that straight line sprint speed is only a partial assessment of an athlete\'s playing speed. The reason is obvious. Few football players run full bore for 30 to 50 yards during a game. In contrast, all players need to make variable speed changes to be effective on the field.Some coaches are aware of this, yet continue to strive to improve 40 times and develop straight-line speeds.What we really need is a better measuring tool for assessing football speed. Often you\'ll see a 4.5 guy who has a slower athletic speed time than a 4.8 guy. A different test would show which athlete