How do you increase speed?

[jcm]

We all know you can increase strength through a weight program and size through nutrition but what about speed? Does anybody have a off season program that is designed to increase team speed? All I can think of is timing the 40 over and over.

Is speed all genetic?

[bhsOL]

I found out personally that stretching can increase speed. It allows you to become more limber and able to take longer strides while running. There are many good drills to increase speed. You probably have to try harder to get faster than you do to get stronger.

[bigchief]

Pick better (faster) parents. thumb

[DRDB]

Speed and agility camps help greatly. They will make the athletes do drills and stretches to increase speed. And even if they don't make faster 40 times, the athletes generally have much more agile and quicker feet which helps sometimes more than blazing speed.

[jcm]

Thanks. Excellent article.

[krichunaka]

Haven't read the article yet, but would suggest considerable attention to running FORM. Donte Stallworth, even after college, managed to increase his already blazing speed (though he could afford a personal coach) by stretching and form work. He also lessened the effect of those nagging hamstring injuries he had to nurse at UT.

 

If at all possible, have someone film you while running. Pay close attention to your take-off; Staying low, and resisting the temptation to "stride out" during take-off will work wonders (a couple extra, shorter steps usually helps).

 

Your arms play a critical role in speed; No wasted head or arm motion. And of course, be very aware of your body lean; not too much, or you'll actually "under-stride."

 

Good Luck,

 

Kim

[hoot24fb]

Running downhill can really help your speed alot. By running downhill your legs are moving at a much faster rate than running on flat ground and by doing this consistently it trains your leg muscles to go that fast all the time.(muscle memory)

[Vikingalumnist]

Exploision Squats and a good plyometric program. thumb

[simonzander71]

i run bleachers not on a regular basis thought but when i ran them on a regular basis i was much faster, hoot24fb when i would run down hill it always put a bunch of strain on my knees and they would hurt real bad, it felt like that tennis elbow so i donr know if that is really good for you