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 provide 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.
Suggested Pre-requisite:
- CIMSPA: L2 Gym / Group Ex
Aims and objectives:
- Describe optimal acceleration movement mechanics and the biomechanical demands of acceleration.
- Describe optimal deceleration movement mechanics and the biomechanical demands of deceleration.
- Describe optimal change of direction movement mechanics and the biomechanical demands of change of direction.
- Describe optimal maximal velocity movement mechanics and the biomechanical demands of maximal velocity sprint performance.
- Explain how different forms of strength training can improve acceleration, deceleration, change of direction and maximal velocity sprint performance.
- 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.
- Explain how resisted sprint training can be implemented to improve acceleration performance in athletes.
- Explain how incline / decline sprint training can improve maximal velocity running performance and acceleration performance in athletes.
Author Bio
My name is Thomas Stringwell and I am the founder of Your Gym Sports Performance Ltd, an education provider that specialises within the fields of strength and conditioning and sports science. I am an accredited strength and conditioning coach with the UKSCA and currently provide performance consultancy services across a range of sports including rugby union, rugby league, soccer, handball, boxing, mixed martial arts, BMX supercross, strength sports and Youth Athletic Development.
I hold a MSc in Sports Biomechanics (Loughborough University), a 1st class honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science (Manchester Metropolitan University) and a Certificate in Education teaching degree (Huddersfield University), with future ambitions of completing a PhD within the field of motor learning, constraints-based learning and non-linear pedagogy.
I have a real passion for education and coach development, having both coached and taught within the fields of strength and conditioning and health and fitness for over a decade. I am a lifelong strength sport enthusiast, having competed both in Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting at a national level, with a genuine drive to support and educate coaches throughout our industry.
Your Gym Sports Performance prides itself on educational excellence, providing evidence-based education to aspiring sports and fitness professionals, whilst supporting practitioners throughout their coaching journey. Our Strength and Conditioning educational pathway enables sports and fitness practitioners to progress within their professional arena, providing coaches with the necessary skill set to apply performance training within their current practice. We aim to inspire and motivate coaches to develop as professionals, creating a lifelong learning experience that assists practitioners beyond the completion of their course, whilst raising the standard of sports performance education within the health and fitness sector.
