What Actually Makes an Athlete Faster? | Dr Eddie McGuinness

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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.