Strength Report: How to Use Weighted Sleds for Explosive Acceleration

There are numerous products designed to increase speed, but one of the most effective, versatile and easiest to use is the weighted sled. The research on resisted sled sprinting has changed over the years, creating a lot of confusion for coaches. Fortunately, recent information has shown that proper use of these sleds can have a positive effect on an athlete’s ability to accelerate – the most important aspect of football speed. Which Way to Push Because the ability to accelerate has been highly correlated to on-field success, it makes sense that football coaches would spend their time and energy working on this trait. Top-end speed is great to have, but the ability to accelerate makes a difference on just about every play at every position on the field. When examining acceleration mechanics, we need to understand that each step has a combination of horizontal and vertical