How to Implement the A-Skip Progression into Your Speed Program (PT 2)

There is a list of complimentary exercises that you can pair with the ASP. Exercises can either help teach the pattern, prepare the athlete to sprint, increase rate of force development (RFD), increase ground reaction force (GRF), increase joint range of motion, or even potentiate muscles before sprinting. When teaching a pattern, it is best to keep the athlete in similar positions throughout the session, and repeat that pattern for the remainder of the session. Once the progression has been taught, exercises selected to pair with the progression should either be a regressed and loaded movement, or a progressed and explosive movement.

Lets dive deeper into the qualities associated with acceleration in relation to sprinting. Acceleration is the rate of change of the velocity of an object with respect to time. From an isolated stance, we must get the mass of the athlete up to speed as quickly as possible (in most instances). This requires high amounts of horizontal force production, longer ground contact times, and lower stride rates. Athletes who lack adequate strength will have lower top end speeds, and take a longer time to get to those speeds. This is why we must develop strength before considering moving fast. In order to match the qualities associated with acceleration, use drills that have a longer amortization phase (longer ground contact time), and horizontal force application. 

Early in sprint development, movements are typically slower with a greater emphasis on force development rather than speed. In order to keep the emphasis on force development, pushing/towing a sled is often prescribed. The load on the sled is heavier, and speed of the movement is slowed. Appropriate loading parameters can vary anywhere between 30-120% of the athletes body weight. Anything below 30% is reserved for movement teaching, or loaded sprinting. It is imperative that coaches do not prescribe excessive loads for sprinting. Research suggests that loads exceeding 30% of an athlete’s body weight can lead to altered sprint mechanics, which takes away from sprint development. 

At the end of the day, the athlete needs to practice the movement. Pairing the A-skip with movements that share similar qualities in body position, amortization length, and force production will not only help teach the progression, but you will further develop all qualities associated with sprinting. 

If you have any questions, please let us know!

Thank you for your time!

Coach Nate Garcia 

nate@tpstrength.com

tim@tpstrength.com

scott@tpstrength.com 

914-486-7678

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