Abstract:
Acceleration performance is important for field sport athletes that require a high level of repeat sprint
ability. Although acceleration is widely trained for, there is little evidence outlining which kinematic
factors delineate between good and poor acceleration. The aim of this study was to investigate the
kinematic differences between individuals with fast and slow acceleration. Twenty field sport athletes
were tested for sprint ability over the first three steps of a 15m sprint. Subjects were filmed at high speed
to determine a range of lower body kinematic measures. For data analysis, subjects were then divided
into relatively fast (n = 10) and slow (n = 10) groups based on their horizontal velocity. Groups were then
compared across kinematic measures, including stride length and frequency, to determine whether they
accounted for observed differences in sprint velocity. The results showed the fast group had significantly
lower (~11-13%) left and right foot contact times (p < .05), and an increased stride frequency (~9%), as
compared to the slow group. Knee extension was also significantly different between groups (p < .05).
There was no difference found in stride length. It was concluded that those subjects who are relatively
fast in early acceleration achieve this through reduced ground contact times resulting in an improved
stride frequency. Training for improved acceleration should be directed towards using coaching
instructions and drills that specifically train such movement adaptations.
