Speed Angle
Understanding Athletic Speed
In this article I want to share what I mean when I say “Understanding Athletic Speed.”
I recently viewed a coach performing a multidirectional speed skill with an athlete. He was pointing to six different cones and the athlete had to run forward, shuffle laterally, or open up and use a crossover to get to the cone. At the cone, the athlete had to touch it and return back to the middle waiting for the next direction. The drill was fine, but the understanding of what was being coached wasn’t.
Let me explain what was being taught and observed by this coach and why he missed the mark on what was really occurring…
First off, when an athlete is being asked to touch a cone (especially 6 inches in height) you are immediately going to get a less than optimal change of direction position. Using a cone is not a bad thing. I use them all the time, but I understand what to expect from the athlete. When touching a cone, the athlete will tend to bend more at the waist than if it was a live random change of direction in sport. You will have to expect more of a narrow base on the cutting or planting leg. The athlete is trying to negotiate getting close enough to the cone so he or she can touch it, yet not slip and fall because of a plant that is too wide.
Secondly, what I heard and saw from the coach in terms of his cuing and voice inflexions did not precipitate the athlete to perform the exercise correctly. So basically the exercise was being treated as a drill and not a skill of athletic movement. This is what I saw…
The coach stopped one of the athletes after several reps. He physically and verbally instructed the athlete to increase his angle of the plant leg on the retreating movement (when he had to open his hips and crossover back to the corner cone). I watched the athlete move during the entire exercise and he moved exactly as he should have considering the coaching.
If the coach wanted the athlete to take a wide plant leg angle to decelerate and re-accelerate off that same plant angle, he needed to advise the athlete to go much faster and more aggressively into cone. I like to call this coaching the “Intensity of Speed.” If the coach had spoken with more excitement and urgency, “Come on, push push, powerful steps…”, or words like this with an excitement in the voice, it would have urged the athlete to raise his intensity of speed.
Once the speed increases into a cut, the natural tendency is to increase the plant angle instinctively. If the athlete doesn’t increase the angle and plants too narrow he will feel the mistake and make the adjustment during the next rep. If they do not make the adjustment, it is easy to coach them on it.
Coaching is much more than teaching athletes about angles and body positions. It is also about making the correct assessment of what the situation demands. As a coach you cannot always expect athletes to perform a certain way if the situation doesn’t permit it. Using the 5-10-5 agility drill to improve random quickness and innate change of direction ability is not an effective tool. The 5-10-5 drill is a rehearsed pattern that can be mapped out exactly. Live sports speed simply happens when it does. The athlete must learn to manipulate the body instantly with no real warning of when the change of direction will occur.
Hopefully, this article gives you some insight as to what I mean when I speak about Understanding Athletic Speed. As a coach, we all must learn to verbalize and coach what we expect. We cannot expect the athlete to act differently than what we are communicating to them through our actions and cuing.
Yours in Speed,
Lee
About the Author
Highly respected as one of the top athletic movement specialist in the country, Lee is co-owner of Sports Speed, Etc., Inc. and President of Lee Taft Speed Academy, Inc. Lee earned his B.S. in Physical Education from Cortland State and his M.S. in Sports Science from the United States Sports Academy. He is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), a Sports Performance Coach certified by USA Weightlifting (SPC)and he is also a certified Level 1 Track and Field Coach by the USA Track & Field (USATF level I).
Over the past 20 years, Lee has worked with many athletes of all ages and abilities. His major focus and passion has been in the athletic development of young athletes. Internationally known as an expert in athletic movement technique, Lee teaches innovative techniques to improve multidirectional speed that are the up and coming teaching methods of many professionals. He has written many articles and e-books on the topic of multilateral speed and youth development, as well as, produced audio CD and DVD programs to assist parents, coaches and athletic development specialist in teaching his proven movement techniques to athletes. Lee recently wrote an inspiration book, 7 Points to a Championship Attitude. He is one of the most sought after speakers and clinician in the U.S. and Canada.
Forza 3 Drift: Maximum Angle & Speed /[SAIKO^D] Kamkor
| | High Speed Steel Round Shank Angle End Boring Bits .186″ x .50″ 45° $12.00 |
| | Alling-Lander angle Gear Reducer Ratio 40:1 372-f-02-061 speed reduction box $200.00 |
| | Dental Low Speed Straight Contra Angle Handpiece NSK CE $98.99 |
| | NSK style dental low slow speed handpiece air turbine latch contra angle nib AA $1.76 |
| | BEING 201CA Low Speed Contra Angle Handpiece Latch E-type Drill Dental Supply $69.99 |
| | 1PC Dental low speed Contra Angle handpiece Push Button LATCH TYPE 2.35mm CE $48.00 |
| | 3 pcs New Dental slow low speed contra angle handpiece push button EX Type Motor $74.10 |
| | Brand New Low Speed 2 Holes Contra Angle Handpiece $64.99 |
| | 5 Dental low speed handpiece E-TYPE latch contra angle $195.00 |
| | Dental slow low speed handpiece E2 nose cone kit contra angle 100% satisfied $79.00 |
| | New Dental Slow Low Speed Handpiece Contra Angle straight Cone Motor kit 4Holes $49.99 |
| | Dodge Tigear 2 Gear Reducer 35Q30R14, NOS angle drive speed reduction box case $200.00 |
| | Dodge Tigear Gear Reducer MR94634 Y FC, Q350B015M188K1 angle speed reduction $200.00 |
| | WINSMITH 917MWNS062X0FT/1L407 C-FACE RIGHT ANGLE SPEED REDUCER,WASHDOWN DUTY $312.00 |
| | 1 X E-Type Latch Straight Angle Low Speed Handpiece $32.99 |
| | 1 X Low Speed Handpiece E-Type Latch Contra Angle $32.99 |
| | low speed LATCH CONTRA ANGLE E-TYPE 1:1 handpiece $7.07 |
| | 2x Dental Handpiece Low Speed Contra Angle Push Button $98.70 |
| | New Dental slow low speed handpiece contra angle kit EX2 $99.00 |
| | NSK EX-203 E-Latch Contra Angle Slow Speed Handpiece, Made in Japan $39.95 |
| | Low Speed Dental Handpiece Contra Angle Nose 2 Hole Adapter NEW Ship From US $133.88 |
| | 7″/9″ Right angle Variable Speed Polisher with 7″ Hook & Loop backing pad $229.99 |
| | 16:1 DENTAL Reduction Contra angle low speed handpiece CX235 C4-1 $111.99 |
| | Dental Handpiece Low Speed Straight Nose Contra Angle $80.00 |
| | DENTAL STRAIGHT CONTRA ANGLE SLOW LOW SPEED HANDPIECE $15.09 |
| | Latch type contra angle low speed handpiece SK-B $45.00 |
| | 5pcs Dental Lab Low Speed Handpiece Contra Angle E Type Latch New SALE $119.99 |
| | 10pcs Dental Lab Low Speed Handpiece Contra Angle E Type Latch New WHOLESALE $221.98 |
| | 3x Dental Handpiece Low Speed Contra Angle Push Button Type SALE $148.58 |
| | 3pcs Dental Handpiece Low Speed Contra Angle Push Button Type SALE $134.98 |
| | DENTAL STRAIGHT CONTRA ANGLE SLOW LOW SPEED HANDPIECE $39.99 |
| | DENTALE TYPE LATCH CONTRA ANGLE LOW SPEED HANDPIECE $34.99 |
| | 3 DENTAL STRAIGHT CONTRA ANGLE E-type SLOW LOW SPEED HANDPIECE $72.20 |
| | 3x Dental Lab Handpiece Low Speed Contra Angle E Type Latch Newest SALE $72.99 |
| | 5x Dental Lab Low Speed Handpiece Contra Angle E Type Latch Newest SALE $105.99 |
| | 5X DENTAL E-TYPE LATCH CONTRA ANGLE SLOW LOW SPEED HANDPIECE NIB $130.00 |
| | NSK Ti-Max X95 Non-Optic contra angle handpiece 1:5 Speed Increasing Japan $923.00 |
| | NSK Ti-Max X85 Non-Optic contra angle handpiece 1:5 Speed Miniature Head Japan $923.00 |
| | KAVO 2307 INTRAFLEX LOW SPEED HANDPIECE, WITH MOTOR, GOOD CONDITION $119.00 |
| | 5 Dental Contra Angle For Slow Speed Handpiece US $100.75 |
| | 10 E TYPE LATCH CONTRA ANGLE LOW SPEED HANDPIECE KIT $165.20 |
| | 5 LATCH CONTRA ANGLE LOW SPEED HANDPIECE US $112.76 |
| | 5X DENTAL E TYPE LATCH CONTRA ANGLE LOW SPEED HANDPIECE $115.00 |
| | DENTAL HIGH-SPEED HANDPIECE LOW CONTRA ANGLE AIR MOTOR $126.35 |
| | DENTAL E TYPE LATCH CONTRA ANGLE LOW SPEED HANDPIECE US $27.17 |
| | Dental high speed handpiece and low contra angle kit US $106.40 |
| | LOW SPEED DENTAL HANDPIECE CONTRA ANGLE NOSE 4H US $82.65 |
| | LOW SPEED DENTAL HANDPIECE CONTRA ANGLE KIT 4 HOLE US $60.90 |
| | 2pcs Dental Handpiece Low Speed Contra Angle Push Button Type 1.6mm Burs SALE $107.98 |
| | Nsk Dental slow Low Speed Handpiece kit contra angle straight/straight con $99.00 |
| | Nsk Dental slow Low Speed Handpiece kit contra angle straight/straight $96.00 |
| | 1 piece of Low Speed Handpiece E-Type Latch Contra Angle Best price Dental New $22.99 |
| | 5X DENTAL E TYPE LATCH CONTRA ANGLE LOW SPEED HANDPIECE $103.55 |
| | Midwest Contra Angle Dental Handpiece Head w/ Low Speed Push Button Head $35.00 |
| | 10X units Slow low speed handpiece latch contra angle $180.00 |
| | 3 New style LOW SPEED DENTAL HANDPIECE CONTRA ANGLE US $237.49 |
| | 10X units Slow low speed handpiece latch contra angle $175.75 |
| | HIGH-SPEED HANDPIECE LOW CONTRA ANGLE AIR MOTOR US $87.00 |
| | 3X LOW NSK SPEED DENTAL HANDPIECE CONTRA ANGLE NOSE US $160.55 |
| | 3 LOW SPEED DENTAL HANDPIECE CONTRA ANGLE KIT 4 HOLE $189.99 |
| | Dental low speed handpiece E-TYPE latch contra angle $28.80 |
| | NEW NSK Style Dental Low Speed Handpiece CONTRA ANGLE $99.99 |
| | Dental E-Type Latch Straight Angle Low Speed Handpiece $26.00 |
| | Vermont American 2 Speed Angle Drive 90 Degree Drill Drilling Sanding Polishing $22.95 |
| | 4 1/2″ Angle Grinder, 11,000 RPM (no load speed) $35.00 |
| | Dental low speed developed handpiece Contra Angle kit * $105.99 |
| | Epilady Sport 2 Speed Corded Epilator Perfect Angle New $19.78 |
| | UNIVERSAL FORMULA1 STYLE ADJUSTABLE ANGLE ALUMINUM GT SPOILER/DOUBLE WING SILVER $53.99 |
| | Vintage Style Hollowed Angle Greek Speed Wing Double Two Connector Finger Ring $0.99 |
| | 20PCS Dental Low Speed Contra Angle Push Button Handpiece CE $959.55 |
| | 6PCS Dental LED Low Speed Inner Water Fiber Optic Push Contra Angle Handpiece CE $735.55 |
| | 3pc Dental low speed Contra Angle Push Button handpiece $142.00 |
| | T3-T4 W/ANGLE TURBOCHARGER TURBO/CHARGER/MANIFOLD IRON FLANGE ADAPTOR GT45/T04E $35.98 |
| | 3PCS dental NSK style low speed Contra Angle Latch type Handpiece NAC-EC $250.00 |
| | NEW dental NSK style low speed Contra Angle Latch type Handpiece NAC-EC $48.00 |
| | 4pcs New Dental Slow Low Speed Handpiece E-Type Straight Contra Angle Autoclave $116.00 |
| | NSK Ti-95EX contra angle-1:5 Speed Increasing Handpiece Made in Japan $696.00 |
| | 4 New Dental low slow speed handpiece contra angle latch type air turbine 1.6mm $173.99 |
| | 3 set Low Speed Handpiece Contra Angle Nose Cone kit 4h $228.00 |
| | 5 Dental turbine replacement for E-type contra angle Slow Speed handpiece $34.20 |
| | 3 Dental slow Low Speed Handpiece kit contra angle straight cone 4 Holes lacth $167.07 |
| | 16:1 DENTAL Reduction Contra angle low speed handpiece CX235 C4-1 $123.99 |
| | Nsk Dental slow Low Speed Handpiece kit contra angle straight/straight con $99.00 |
| | 3pcs Dental Handpiece Low Speed Contra Angle Push Button Type 1.6mm Burs SALE $147.98 |
| | New Low Speed 2 Holes Contra Angle Handpiece $74.99 |
| | 5pcs Dental Handpiece Low Speed Contra Angle Push Button Type 1.6mm Burs SALE $223.98 |
| | Slow Low Speed Handpiece Contra Angle Nose Cone kit 4h $107.00 |
| | PROXXON LONG NECK MINI ANGLE GRINDER + FOUR 2″ DISC VARIABLE SPEED FREE S&H $168.98 |
| | New Dental Straight Contra Angle Slow Low Speed Handpiece fit air motor Sale USA $7.51 |
| | Dental Straight Contra Angle Slow Low Speed Handpiece $32.99 |