Sprint Drills
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Sprint Drills
Please describe the drills that you mentioned in your sprint article "Components of a Speed Program". The article is in the Coaching section.
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George Payan
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Coaching the Mechanics of Sprinting By Kevin O'Donnell
At a clinic Kevin O'Donnell, Speed Dynamics, spoke on drills for speed. He said that repeated rehearsal sprint drills will create permanent patterns of movement which work like an auto pilot for the sprinter. The drills are as follows:
Ankling Drill
Objective: To limit time spent on the ground and develop an elastic response in the ankle joint.
Beginning with a walk, with each small step taken, step no higher than the top of the opposite ankle. Emphasize the ankles remaining dorsiflexed throughout the drill. The look of the drill is that of a quick-shuffle action. As tempo increases, an elastic response in the ankle increases. Arms and legs should be active with the elbows loosely positioned at 90 degrees. In ankling, horizotal speed is insignificant. The focus is on limiting the time spent on the ground. Athletes should be instructed to listen to their steps! and try not to make a scuffing noise with their shoes.
Ankling Cues: "toes up", "quick feet", "hot ground", "fast shuffle", "spring-board action".
Butt-Kick Drill
Objective: To reduce the time necessary for recovering the foot from the ground to the buttocks by using the gastrocnemius muscle to fold the calf tightly against the hamstrings.
The technical focus of the butt-kick drill is the ankle, which should be dorsiflexed throughout the exercise. Beginning with a jog, proper ankle position should be maintained as the heels quickly fold-up to the buttocks. A contact "slap" should be audible. When the drill is first introduced, the thigh can be close to perpendicular when the foot contacts the buttock. As skill increases, however, the knee should rise and the thigh will approach a parallel position as each heel slaps the buttock. Once again, avoiding scuffing the running surface is key. This drill is an excellent exercise to simultaneously improve a sprinter's arm-action by driving the elbows back quickly in sync with the legs.
Butt Kick Cues: "elbows back", "toes up", "hands like hammers".
"A" Drills
Objective: To improve efficiency of movement and to establish the best mechanical position in which to begin the next stride.
The names we tend to give exercises can distract us from proper execution. "High-knee Drills" are perhaps the best example. Getting the knee high isn't sufficient. Therefore, the "A" series avoids any confusion with the use of a generic name. In the "A" Drill, the toe, heel, and knees should come up simultaneously. The calf should be kept tightly folded against the hamstrings and thigh parallel to the ground as the foot steps-over the opposite knee. To complete the stride cycle, the thigh is then driven back down to and then past the perpendicular position at landing, and the foot pulls the ground back underneath the hips.
The "A" Drill shoudl begin with a march. As skill increases, the march can transition into a skip and then a run. The shoulders should remain above the hips throughout the A drill, and the athlete should avoid tilting the pelvis back like a drum major to make it easier to lift the knees.
"A" Drill Cues: "toe up-heel up-knee up", "step-over the opposite knee".
Fast Claw Drill
Objective: To re-pattern neuro-muscular movements and create improved vertical leg speed.
This exercise is performed one leg at a time. It begins with the athlete standing erect with the thigh of the active leg blocked in a parallel position, the toe should be up and ankle cocked, and the heel of the support leg off the ground. To begin, the thigh is driven down to a perpendicular position as fast as possible, and the foot recovered back up as quickly as possible. The knee joint remains loose allowing the lower leg to swing out naturally. The cyclical action used in previous drills applies here. The Fast Claw Drill can be performed continously, for a designated number of repetitions or on command.
"B" Drills
Objective: To reduce breaking forces at ground contact by generating high levels of negative (backward) foot speed. (can also be used to simulate the sensation of hurdle clearance).
The single characteristic which most distinguishes developing sprinters from elite sprinters is the ability to produce negative foot speed. This exercise allows athletes to experience the sensation of pulling the running surface back underneath them. When this negative or backward foot speed is at least equal to the velocity of the hips traveling forward, little deceleration occurs as the foot lands.
The "B" Drill begins with the same action as the "A" series with the toe-up, heel-up, knee-up, and the foot stepping over the opposite knee. When the thigh blocks in a parallel position, it should be quickly re-accelerated back to a support stance. In the "A" series of drills, the speed of the leg through the stride cycle is the same. In the "B" Drill, the speed of thigh driving back toward the ground is noticeably faster than the recovery action and the front-side movement dominates the exercise.
Contrary to popular opinion, it is not necessary for the sprinter to try to kick-out the lower in front of him. This action will occur naturally as a result of the quick change of direction in the thigh position.
Unlike the "A" series, "B" Drills should begin with a full skip, and progresses to the march which requires high levels of strength, flexibility and skill. The full series of "B" Drills includes a full skip with both legs active, a single leg "B" skip, a "B"run and a"B" march.
"B" Drills Cues: "step over", "drive the thigh", "grab back".
Straight-Leg shuffle
Objectives: To develop high levels of negative foot speed and increase specific strength in the hamstrings and glutes.
In this exercise, athletes should be told to forget they have a knee joint. Keeping the toes up, ankles dorsiflexed and shoulders positioned in front of the hips, the leg swings straight out, then quickly changes direction andd drives back into the running surface. Athletes shhoudl feel the hips projected forward as they attempt to pull the gground back underneath them. Once the basic movement is mastered, the straight-leg shuffle can evolve into a straight-leg bounding action by applying greater negative force at each landing. Proper running posture should always be maintained.
Straight Leg shuffle/Bound cues: "tear back the track', "pop the hips through".
Ankling Drill
Objective: To limit time spent on the ground and develop an elastic response in the ankle joint.
Beginning with a walk, with each small step taken, step no higher than the top of the opposite ankle. Emphasize the ankles remaining dorsiflexed throughout the drill. The look of the drill is that of a quick-shuffle action. As tempo increases, an elastic response in the ankle increases. Arms and legs should be active with the elbows loosely positioned at 90 degrees. In ankling, horizotal speed is insignificant. The focus is on limiting the time spent on the ground. Athletes should be instructed to listen to their steps! and try not to make a scuffing noise with their shoes.
Ankling Cues: "toes up", "quick feet", "hot ground", "fast shuffle", "spring-board action".
Butt-Kick Drill
Objective: To reduce the time necessary for recovering the foot from the ground to the buttocks by using the gastrocnemius muscle to fold the calf tightly against the hamstrings.
The technical focus of the butt-kick drill is the ankle, which should be dorsiflexed throughout the exercise. Beginning with a jog, proper ankle position should be maintained as the heels quickly fold-up to the buttocks. A contact "slap" should be audible. When the drill is first introduced, the thigh can be close to perpendicular when the foot contacts the buttock. As skill increases, however, the knee should rise and the thigh will approach a parallel position as each heel slaps the buttock. Once again, avoiding scuffing the running surface is key. This drill is an excellent exercise to simultaneously improve a sprinter's arm-action by driving the elbows back quickly in sync with the legs.
Butt Kick Cues: "elbows back", "toes up", "hands like hammers".
"A" Drills
Objective: To improve efficiency of movement and to establish the best mechanical position in which to begin the next stride.
The names we tend to give exercises can distract us from proper execution. "High-knee Drills" are perhaps the best example. Getting the knee high isn't sufficient. Therefore, the "A" series avoids any confusion with the use of a generic name. In the "A" Drill, the toe, heel, and knees should come up simultaneously. The calf should be kept tightly folded against the hamstrings and thigh parallel to the ground as the foot steps-over the opposite knee. To complete the stride cycle, the thigh is then driven back down to and then past the perpendicular position at landing, and the foot pulls the ground back underneath the hips.
The "A" Drill shoudl begin with a march. As skill increases, the march can transition into a skip and then a run. The shoulders should remain above the hips throughout the A drill, and the athlete should avoid tilting the pelvis back like a drum major to make it easier to lift the knees.
"A" Drill Cues: "toe up-heel up-knee up", "step-over the opposite knee".
Fast Claw Drill
Objective: To re-pattern neuro-muscular movements and create improved vertical leg speed.
This exercise is performed one leg at a time. It begins with the athlete standing erect with the thigh of the active leg blocked in a parallel position, the toe should be up and ankle cocked, and the heel of the support leg off the ground. To begin, the thigh is driven down to a perpendicular position as fast as possible, and the foot recovered back up as quickly as possible. The knee joint remains loose allowing the lower leg to swing out naturally. The cyclical action used in previous drills applies here. The Fast Claw Drill can be performed continously, for a designated number of repetitions or on command.
"B" Drills
Objective: To reduce breaking forces at ground contact by generating high levels of negative (backward) foot speed. (can also be used to simulate the sensation of hurdle clearance).
The single characteristic which most distinguishes developing sprinters from elite sprinters is the ability to produce negative foot speed. This exercise allows athletes to experience the sensation of pulling the running surface back underneath them. When this negative or backward foot speed is at least equal to the velocity of the hips traveling forward, little deceleration occurs as the foot lands.
The "B" Drill begins with the same action as the "A" series with the toe-up, heel-up, knee-up, and the foot stepping over the opposite knee. When the thigh blocks in a parallel position, it should be quickly re-accelerated back to a support stance. In the "A" series of drills, the speed of the leg through the stride cycle is the same. In the "B" Drill, the speed of thigh driving back toward the ground is noticeably faster than the recovery action and the front-side movement dominates the exercise.
Contrary to popular opinion, it is not necessary for the sprinter to try to kick-out the lower in front of him. This action will occur naturally as a result of the quick change of direction in the thigh position.
Unlike the "A" series, "B" Drills should begin with a full skip, and progresses to the march which requires high levels of strength, flexibility and skill. The full series of "B" Drills includes a full skip with both legs active, a single leg "B" skip, a "B"run and a"B" march.
"B" Drills Cues: "step over", "drive the thigh", "grab back".
Straight-Leg shuffle
Objectives: To develop high levels of negative foot speed and increase specific strength in the hamstrings and glutes.
In this exercise, athletes should be told to forget they have a knee joint. Keeping the toes up, ankles dorsiflexed and shoulders positioned in front of the hips, the leg swings straight out, then quickly changes direction andd drives back into the running surface. Athletes shhoudl feel the hips projected forward as they attempt to pull the gground back underneath them. Once the basic movement is mastered, the straight-leg shuffle can evolve into a straight-leg bounding action by applying greater negative force at each landing. Proper running posture should always be maintained.
Straight Leg shuffle/Bound cues: "tear back the track', "pop the hips through".