Here are 6 easy to teach and easy to learn exercises that can help increase an athlete’s speed. The great thing about these exercises is they an be done on the field without any special equipment, meaning they could be part of your off-season program or easily added to your practice plan.
As coaches we are always looking for ways to increase the speed of our athletes. The two clips below are from a DVD that shows you how to run a summer speed camp with minimal equipment that will help increase the speed of you athletes.
In the first clip below you see 6 different drills that you can use to improve your athletes speed. The second clip is instruction on the proper technique of a two point stance. The proper technique will enable your athletes to improve their first step as well as their speed in the first 10 yds.
In the complete DVD you will learn the following from Jake Moore, DPT; Physical Therapist/Strength and Conditioning Coach, Gilbert (IA) High School.
1. How to design, organize, and administer a successful speed and agility camp
2. Learn numerous drills for improving foot speed, dynamic movements, explosive movements, short distance
3. Acceleration and deceleration with body control
4. Provide your athletes with world-class instruction at a low cost and with minimal equipment
For more information about the DVD click the link Summer Speed Camp
The YouTube videos below have sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site. (Some schools block access to YouTube)
The six exercises detailed in the first clip are:
1. Continuous Vertical Jump
2. Continuous Vertical Jump with a Hop – Hold the last one
3. Tuck Jumps – Hold the last one
4. Broad Jumps – Hold the last one
5. Broad Jumps with a Hop – Hold the last one
6. Backward Ankle Bounce – Point the toes up.
The key to the 2-point start is that the front leg should be angled forward. The shin should be angles such that the knee is above the toes. If the athlete does not do this, and instead has their shin perpendicular to the ground, the will pop straight up and will not be able to accelerate as much.