Speed & Agility – Programme Design

The ability to perform rapid speed and agility maneuvers within an ever-changing chaotic environment are great in sport. Such movement skills place large biomechanical and neuromuscular demands upon the body, all of which can be enhanced via the implementation of effective speed and agility training.

Therefore, the aim of this short course is providing performance coaches with a greater understanding of the biomechanical and neuromuscular demands of acceleration, maximal running velocity, deceleration and change of direction performance, and how each of these vital performance qualities can be improved using an evidence-based multi-disciplinary approach.  

Course Aims & Objectives

1  – Describe optimal acceleration movement mechanics and the biomechanical demands of acceleration.

2 – Describe optimal deceleration movement mechanics and the biomechanical demands of deceleration.

3 – Describe optimal change of direction movement mechanics and the biomechanical demands of change of direction.

4 – Describe optimal maximal velocity movement mechanics and the biomechanical demands of maximal velocity sprint performance.

5 – Explain how different forms of strength training can improve acceleration, deceleration, change of direction and maximal velocity sprint performance.

6 – Explain how plyometric training, loaded jump training, Olympic weightlifting and other power / RFD training methods can enhance acceleration, deceleration, change of direction and maximal velocity sprint performance.

7 – Explain how resisted sprint training can be implemented to improve acceleration performance in athletes.

8 – Explain how incline / decline sprint training can improve maximal velocity running performance and acceleration performance in athletes.