Maximal Accelerated Linear Sprints From Standing And Moving Starts

Straight-line sprinting and the ability to accelerate is deemed essential for success in team sports. In Rugby League around 58% and in football around 60% of straight-line sprints are preceded by forward locomotion. In team sports most straight-line sprint diagnostics are performed from a standing start, over distances of 20 to 40 m. PURPOSE: To analyse the effects of three pre-start running velocities vs. standing start on acceleration profiles in maximum straight-line sprinting. METHODS: 20 males (80.8 ± 10.4 kg, 180.8 ± 5.3 cm, 24 ± 2.7 yrs) performed four times three maximally accelerated 35 m-sprints in randomized order, starting from standing start (V0), and with starting velocities of 1.47 ± 0.09 m/s (V1), 2.56 ± 0.10 m/s (V2) and 4.09 ± 0.13 m/s (V3), respectively. Running velocity was measured continuously by radar with 46.875 Hz. Sprint velocities were analysed as function of time. Differences in acceleration were analysed using a mono exponential fit of sprint velocity over time. RESULTS: At V0 the time constant of the increase in sprint velocity (1.28 ± 0.08 s) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than at V1 (1.38 ± 0.17 s), V2 (1.41 ± 0.14 s) and V3 (1.44 ± 0.15 s), respectively. No differences were found between V1, V2 and V3 (p > 0.05). Higher pre-running velocities lead to higher (p < 0.05) running distances after 1, 2, 3 and 4 s compared to sprints with lower pre-running velocity and sprints from standing start (Tab. 1). CONCLUSIONS: Each increase in starting velocity lead to practically relevant gains in running distance as considered for football, though acceleration was impaired in comparison to the standing start. The latter effect was independent of pre-starting velocity and reflects an unutilized acceleration reserve. Table 1 - : Distance (m) at 1-4 s at V0-V3. Time (s) Distance (m) V0 Distance (m) V1 Distance (m) V2 Distance (m) V3 1 2.51 ± 0.12 3.40 ± 0.18 4.17 ± 0.13 5.26 ± 0.14 all p < 0.05 2 8.11 ± 0.34 9.26 ± 0.48 10.39 ± 0.39 12.01 ± 0.35 all p < 0.05 3 15.10 ± 0.58 16.28 ± 0.79 17.62 ± 0.70 19.50 ± 0.62 all p < 0.05 4 22.74 ± 0.83 23.87 ± 1.10 25.35 ± 1.04 27.36 ± 0.91 all p < 0.05 all p < 0.05 all p < 0.05 all p < 0.05 all p < 0.05