ANALYZING HITTING, KICKING, AND THROWING SPEED
JOSE PALAO, PHD, CSCS, AND DAVID VALADES, PHD
I
n sports, the higher the level of competition, the higher speed
of execution and subsequently, the less time there is for the
players to execute. In sports where athletes have to hit, kick,
or throw a ball, one of the keys for success involves the players’
ability to accelerate the game and reduce the opponent’s
response time (e.g., kicking toward the goal, pitching, etc.).
Improving the hitting, kicking, and throwing ability usually
involves an increase in the athlete’s strength and/or an
improvement in the movement mechanics (3).
To monitor the ball speed in practice and in competition, it is
possible to use radar (immediate feedback) or video analysis
(indirect feedback). This monitoring can be done in isolated
situations or in integrated situations. The use of these instruments
allows coaches and strength and conditioning professionals to
assess how the athletes are executing their movements objectively.
Specific literature about strength training indicates that a speed
reduction of more than 10% means that practice is not adequate
for training the strength application (1).
The measurement protocol must be established and followed for
all the measurements in order to monitor the speed execution
reliably (2). The goals for monitoring, level of the athletes, the
instruments, and resources available must be considered in order
to establish this protocol and the conditions of the measurement
(generic or specific situation). Ideally, the monitoring should
be done in real and simplified situations. The number of
measurements per session, per week, etc. will vary in relation
to the number of athletes to be evaluated, resources that are
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available, time spent per athlete to perform the measurement, and
level of integration with the practice.
Once the data are obtained, they should be analyzed at least
three ways. First, there should be an analysis of the data from
each measurement; the data should be analyzed each time. This
gives information about how the athlete is executing and his/her
shape in this specific moment of the season. Secondly, the data
accumulated throughout the season gives information about the
evolution of the athlete and the effect of the training. Third, which
is more general, involves comparing the values with reference
values of the population and/or team. This allows for the needs
and goals to be established for the athlete in the short-term as
well as the long-term.
1.
First level of analysis: qualitative analysis of the practice/
execution. During the season, the data are accumulated
and a mean and/or speed peak can be established.
From this reference value, the execution of the athlete
must not descend more than 10% of the peak speed (1).
This calculation can be done easily with a spreadsheet.
Executions done in training under this value do not
necessarily ensure that the training is valuable. If the data
are obtained with radar, the data will allow for immediate
feedback to the athlete; which, in turn, allows strength
and conditioning professionals and coaches to monitor
the quality of the practice in order to help keep athletes
involved in practices.
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