SELLEST OSAST
Join my weekly coaching email for practical insights on GAA coaching, athletic development and sport science:
https://fhs-performance.kit.com/4d8709e773
Sprint & Speed Development Resources Mentioned:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ0BRPgUxb8&list=LL&index=118
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-6YEP9bygg&t=1487s&pp=ygUSc3ByaW50IG1hc3RlcmNsYXNz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bALARm283e4&pp=ygUYc3ByaW50IG1hc3RlcmNsYXNzIGpvbmFz
Recommended YouTube Resources:
Speedworks Training
ALTIS World
Les Spellman
How do we know if our athletes are actually getting faster?
What distances should we use when testing acceleration and maximum velocity? How reliable are timing gates and GPS? And once we have collected the data, how can we use it to improve training?
In this episode of Coach's Lab, I’m joined by Dr Eddie McGuinness to discuss speed profiling, sprint testing and the practical development of faster athletes.
Eddie is an Assistant Professor in Athletic Therapy and Training and Strength & Conditioning at DCU. He completed his PhD research on speed profiling and combines his academic work with experience as an S&C coach, athletic therapist and senior inter-county Gaelic footballer.
In this episode, we discuss:
What speed profiling is and why it can be useful
Assessing acceleration and maximum velocity
The best distances for testing speed
How to set up reliable sprint tests
5m vs 10m acceleration testing
Timing gates vs GPS
Using speed profiles to inform training
Speed testing and talent identification
Whether speed training should be sport-specific
What actually makes an athlete faster
Force production, force expression and force application
Strength training and speed development
Developing sprint mechanics
The role of drills, skips, wall exercises and actual sprinting
Using video feedback to improve sprint technique
Male and female considerations for speed development
A practical hierarchy for developing faster athletes
Why simple and reliable testing can be more valuable than collecting endless data
Throughout the conversation, Eddie provides practical recommendations for coaches looking to test and develop speed without unnecessarily complicating the process.
A useful episode for GAA coaches, S&C coaches, athletic development practitioners, sport scientists and anyone interested in understanding how to test, profile and develop faster athletes.
