Most football players can be taught and trained How To Run Fast!
Again, in case you forgot, true speed work is defined as 2-8 seconds of full speed, full intensity running with full (minimum of 3 minutes) recovery.
If your ‘football speed workouts’ don’t fall under that category, then you are not training your football players to improve their ability to accelerate effectively or develop faster top speeds.
Because running fast is, without question, a skill. And there are certain elements of running that need to be developed in order to get consistent results.
And those results come from a focus on the following five areas, in no particular order.
Speed Fundamental #1: TEACH PROPER ARM ACTION
Ultimately the role of the arms is to stabilize the torso.
In doing so, it allows for greater power transfer and force application, factors critical to speed.
All arm action should take place through the shoulders. Cue athletes to keep the elbows locked at approximately 90 degrees. In front, the hands should not cross the midline of the body.
Hands should come to cheek height in front and clear the hip in the back. Also, focus on driving the elbow or the hand down and back, keeping the elbows close to the body throughout the entire range of motion.
You’ll be surprised how difficult this is for many athletes.
Speed Fundamental #2: TRAIN FAST, RUN FAST
I don’t care what sport you coach. If all your training is at a submaximal pace, then you are not going to develop faster athletes. It’s just that simple.
This principle is not just for track sprinters. From soccer to football to lacrosse and everything in between, athletes need to train fast if they want to be fast.