Developing Sport-Specific Speed: The Benefits of Initial Acceleration

What is initial acceleration? 

Success in elite sport can often be determined by the smallest of margins. In many field and court sports creating an offensive advantage can often be obtained by beating an opponent in 1-2 steps. In many instances, athletes in field and court sports do not cover distances that would allow them to attain maximum velocity.20 Throughout field sport performance, the average sprint distance is only 10-20 meters and the average sprint duration is merely 2-3 seconds.17 The ability to rapidly change speed can be a defining factor in sport performance. This skillset, known as initial acceleration, can be used as a weapon for those who possess efficiency in its performance. Training recommendations to enhance initial acceleration must include strength, power, and technique practice to maximize improvement. 

Why is initial acceleration unique from max velocity? 

There is a growing body of literature that is separating initial acceleration and maximum velocity sprinting as separate athletic tasks. Delecluse5 has broken the 100-meter sprint event into three separate phases, each having distinct components for successful performance.14 From a technical perspective, initial acceleration mechanics involve slightly longer ground contact times, a large forward lean,10 and a greater ratio of horizontally directed ground reaction forces,12 in comparison to the more upright posture adopted at maximum velocity. These findings have led to a powerful understanding that initial acceleration should be trained for and taught differently than maximum velocity sprint mechanics. In addition, clear differences exist in the type of strength displayed during the stance phases of initial acceleration and maximum velocity sprinting. Correlational studies have shown strength qualities that strongly predict superior initial acceleration are different than those that predict maximum velocity.1,20 From a practitioner’s point of view, different exercises and technique practice can be targeted to further develop and optimize sprint performance in the desired phase. 

Building Strength and Power 

General Exercises 

General exercises create a strong neuromuscular and morphological foundation on which greater performance can be built. Compound, multi-joint exercises that focus on triple extension (hips, knees, and ankles) will accomplish the outcome of improving max strength. High force strength exercises such as squats, deadlifts, or variations of these lifts, are excellent selections.19,21 High force, high velocity exercises such as Olympic lifts, Olympic lift variations, and Jump Squats are effective choices for improving power.1 Enhancing strength characteristics and movement patterns through these exercises create a beneficial foundation leading into special exercises and the technical practice of initial acceleration. 

Special Exercises 

Special exercises do not completely mimic initial acceleration, but closely replicate several strength components such as rate of force production and direction of force application. The duration of the stance phase during initial acceleration is often 0.15 – 0.2 seconds, and it becomes smaller and smaller in duration with each subsequent step. With this limited time frame, it is impossible to reach maximum force production. The goal of the special exercises is to increase the rate of force development in the same relevant direction as the competition exercise. Plyometric exercises specifically accomplish this aim. Correlational studies have shown horizontal jumping to have a stronger relationship to initial acceleration in comparison to vertical jumping.6,8 An additional benefit of the horizontal jump pattern is a similar inter-muscular coordination strategy (rotation-extension) seen in the second stance phase of sprinters.7,9 Improvement in coordination strategy could allow for greater horizontal direction of force application. Exercises such as broad jumps, single leg broad jumps, bounding, and speed bounding are outstanding selections. 

Improving Acceleration Technique 

The practice of initial acceleration itself is an effective means of improving speed. However, practical experience and a growing branch of literature on resisted sprinting provide a compelling argument of the benefit of special exercises in improving specific components of sprint mechanics. Several studies have shown superior acceleration created through a more horizontally oriented force vector, with the orientation of this force vector being more impactful than the total force applied.13,16 Factors such as forward lean,10 touchdown distance and ankle stiffness,2 and hip extension velocity at touchdown3 are all technique applications that could lead to a more horizontally oriented force vector and faster acceleration times. 

Resisted sled towing is an effective exercise that can contribute to mastering the specific components of acceleration technique. Training programs using sled towing have been shown to have a positive effect on short distance sprint times.4 Technical benefits from sled towing include increased forward lean and coordinative changes that increase horizontal power.11,18A systematic review of the resisted sprinting literature revealed a range of 10%-30% bodyweight as an effective resistance to improve sprint acceleration performance.15 Combining unweighted and weighted sprint methods may create an ideal environment to allow mastery of short distance sprint mechanics. 

Review of Recommendations 

General Exercises 
Weight Training 

  • Squats 
  • Deadlifts 
  • Olympic Lifts (clean and snatch) 
  • Olympic Lift variations (pulls and catches) 
  • Jump Squats with barbell  

Special Exercises 

Plyometrics (horizontal jumps) 

  • Broad Jumps (or multiple jumps) 
  • Single Leg Broad Jumps (or multiple jumps) 
  • Bounding (short distances) 
  • Speed Bounding (short distances) 

Resisted Sled Towing 

  • 10%-30% bodyweight 

References: 

Baker, D. & Nance, S. (1999). The relation between running speed and measures of strength and power in professional rugby players. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 13, 230–235. 

Bezodis, N. E., Trewartha, G., & Salo, A. I. T. (2015). Understanding the effect of touchdown distance and ankle joint kinematics on sprint acceleration performance through computer simulation. Sports biomechanics, 14(2), 232-245. 

Bezodis, N. E., North, J. S., & Razavet, J. L. (2017). Alterations to the orientation of the ground reaction force vector affect sprint acceleration performance in team sports athletes. Journal of sports sciences, 35(18), 1817-1824. 

Cronin, J., & Hansen, K. T. (2006). Resisted sprint training for the acceleration phase of sprinting. Strength and conditioning Journal, 28(4), 42. 

Delecluse, C. H., Van Coppenolle, H., Willems, E., Diels, R., Goris, M., Van Leemputte, M. & Vuylsteke, M. (1995). Analysis of 100 meter sprint performance as a multidimensional skill. Journal of Human Movement Studies, 28, 87-101. 

Dobbs, C. W., Gill, N. D, Smart, D. J., & McGuigan, M. R. (2015). Relationship between vertical and horizontal jump variables and muscular performance in athletes. Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 21,661-671. 

Fukashiro, S., Besier, T.F., Barrett, R., Cochrane, J., Nagano, A., & Lloyd, D. G. (2005). Direction control in standing horizontal and vertical jumps. International Journal of Sport and Health Science, 3, 272-279. 

Habibi, W., Shabani, M., Rahimi, E., Fatemi, R., Najafi, A., Analoei, H., & Hosseini, M. (2010). Relationship between jump test results and acceleration phase of sprint performance in national and regional 100m sprinters. Journal of Human Kinetics, 23, 29-35. 

Jacobs, R., & van Ingen Schenau, G. J. (1992). Intermuscular coordination in a sprint push-off. Journal of biomechanics, 25(9), 953-965. 

Kugler, F., & Janshen, L. (2010). Body position determines propulsive forces in accelerated running. Journal of Biomechanics, 43(2), 343-348. 

Lockie, R. G., Murphy, A. J., & Spinks, C. D. (2003). Effects of resisted sled towing on sprint kinematics in field-sport athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 17(4), 760-767. 

Morin, J. B., Edouard, P., & Samozino, P. (2011). Technical ability of force application as a determinant factor of sprint performance. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 43(9), 1680-1688. 

Morin, J. B., Slawinski, J., Dorel, S., Couturier, A., Samozino, P., Brughelli, M., & Rabita, G. (2015). Acceleration capability in elite sprinters and ground impulse: Push more, brake less?. Journal of Biomechanics, 48(12), 3149-3154. 

Nagahara, R., Naito, H., Morin, J. B., & Zushi, K. (2014). Association of acceleration with spatiotemporal variables in maximal sprinting. International journal of sports medicine, 35(09), 755-761. 

Petrakos, G., Morin, J. B., & Egan, B. (2016). Resisted sled sprint training to improve sprint performance: A systematic review. Sports medicine, 46(3), 381-400. 

Rabita, G., Dorel, S., Slawinski, J., Sàez‐de‐Villarreal, E., Couturier, A., Samozino, P., & Morin, J. B. (2015). Sprint mechanics in world‐class athletes: a new insight into the limits of human locomotion. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 25(5), 583-594. 

Spencer, M., Bishop, D., Dawson, B., & Goodman, C. (2005). Physiological and metabolic responses of repeated-sprint activities. Sports Medicine, 35(12), 1025-1044. 

Spinks, C. D., Murphy, A. J., Spinks, W. L., & Lockie, R. G. (2007). The effects of resisted sprint training on acceleration performance and kinematics in soccer, rugby union, and Australian football players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21(1), 77. 

Wild, J., Bezodis, N. E., Blagrove, R., & Bezodis, I. (2011). A biomechanical comparison of accelerative and maximum velocity sprinting: Specific strength training considerations. Professional Strength and Conditioning, 21, 23-37. 

Young, W., Mc Lean, B., & Ardagna, J. (1995). Relationship between strength qualities and sprinting performance. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 35(1), 13-19. 

Young, W., Benton, D., & John Pryor, M. (2001). Resistance training for short sprints and maximum-speed sprints. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 23(2), 7.