Definition
The training of speed refers to the ability of the human body to respond to a stimulus and/or signal as quickly as possible and to complete the required movement action. This requires an optimal interaction of the nervous system and musculature so that no time is lost. Speed training requires a high degree of concentration, as this type of training places very high demands on the autonomic nervous system. A training of speed under exhaustion does not promise any success.
Who benefits from speed training?
The maximum speed is a very important factor in many sports and for many of these sports performance is limiting. Especially all sprint disciplines, the cycling disciplines, speed skating, throwing and pushing disciplines and many team sports rely to a large extent on speed as a fundamental influencing factor. In soccer, handball, field hockey, basketball and other team sports speed is a factor that can decide about defeat and victory.
If an attacker is faster than a defender, the chance to win the sprint duel and score a goal or a point increases. In jumping sports such as long jump and high jump, speed is a factor that determines the jumping distance and height. The faster an athlete is able to start, the higher is the probability that he can transfer the impulse to the flight phase. One cannot generalize that the fastest athletes jump the farthest or highest. However, it has often happened that world class sprinters have also been world class long jumpers.
How can you improve your speed?
The basis for a successful training of speed, is the strength training. For example, common strength training exercises are used and are advertised as speed training due to lower weights and explosive execution. During general hypertrophy training it was found that the effects of the training also positively influenced the speed.
The speed training has developed positively in recent years. Recent studies have confirmed that even older people react positively to moderate speed training (especially in team sports the sprints are usually quite short. In soccer, sprints rarely exceed the 30 meter mark.
In handball the sprints are usually even shorter. A person does not reach his highest speed before the 40 meter mark. To train speed now, the focus should be on acceleration, not just pure speed.
Acceleration can be done from different positions and on different types of signals. The greater the variations, the more effective the acceleration training will be on speed. Especially in team sports the sprints are usually quite short.
In soccer, sprints rarely go beyond the 30 meter mark. In handball the sprints are usually even shorter. A person does not reach his highest speed before the 40 meter mark.
To train speed now, the focus should be on acceleration, not just pure speed. Acceleration can be done from different positions and on different types of signals. The greater the variations, the more effective the acceleration training will be on speed.
Especially in team sports the sprints are usually quite short. In soccer, sprints rarely go beyond the 30 meter mark. In handball the sprints are usually even shorter.
A person does not reach his highest speed before the 40 meter mark. To train speed now, the focus should be on acceleration, not just pure speed. Acceleration can be done from different positions and on different types of signals. The greater the variations, the more effective the acceleration training will be on speed.
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