Parisi Master Coach, Steve Leo, is back again, clearing up some common mistakes when coaching acceleration speed training. What other mistakes have you seen? Let us know in the comments!
Don’t coach 45-degree body angle throughout acceleration.
Do: The body must drive taller throughout the accelerations phase into overall acceleration and top speed.
Don’t tell the athlete to only push back or down.
Do: Vertical and horizontal forces are both important in the drive phase. Direction of force must be at the optimal angle
Don’t coach the athlete to drive their knees higher.
Do: Coach thigh drive forward and low heel recovery
Don’t coach the acceleration only lasting 10 yards.
Do: Coach athletes to drive and accelerate as long as they can hold the body position and continue to improve speed. It can take elite runners 30-40M to hit top speed
Don’t cue “take long strides.”
Do: Contact the ground as close to the center of mass as possible in an effort to minimize breaking forces and maximize vertical force.
About the Author
Steve Leo
Lead Master Performance Coach
Steve LeoHaving worked for Parisi Speed School in Fair Lawn and Morris Plains, N.J., for 15 years as a performance coach and program director, Steve now owns his own franchise location in Sparta, N.J., and assists the franchise corporate team. He holds multiple professional certifications and has years of coaching experience.
Steve grew up in Hawthorne, N.J., where he was a three-sport varsity athlete. Realizing sports was his real passion, Steve majored in Exercise Sciences at Northeastern University and graduated with a degree in Sports Management from Centenary College.