Log In     Join Daily Email     Customer Service      

Log In

Access your American Football Monthly account.

Home Magazine Issues April 2008 The Speed Report: Playing Fast Transition Speed is Essential

The Speed Report: Playing Fast Transition Speed is Essential

Playing fast means winning games. Coaches in football love speed. The question is twofold: how do we develop it and what kind of speed works? Football requires what I term transition speed. Whenever an athlete has a change of velocity or changes the direction of any movement, a transition must occur. When this transition happens it may cause a physiological change. It will absolutely change the mechanical function of limb cycle and body positioning to force relationship. As athletes run, motor patterns are being programmed, motor patterns can be reorganized for positive results by using correct drill processing. It is natural for limb speed to slow down during transition phases. This alters the velocity prior to the initial change. When momentum is displaced during intense speed activity, the arms instantly react as a balancing device. This usually means the arms widen away from the

Continue Reading

This article is available to American Football Quarterly subscribers.
Get instant digital access to this issue and the complete archive.

Subscribe for Full Access

200+ Issues. Every Article. Instant Access.

Subscribe to American Football Quarterly for unlimited digital access to every article, all 201 issues, and the complete online archive — available instantly, anytime, on any device.

Subscribe Today