BIOMOTOR DEVELOPMENT FOR
SPEED-POWER ATHLETES
MikeYoung, PhD
Whitecaps FC -Vancouver, BC
Athletic Lab - Cary, NC
While primarily a soccer fitness coach and
sport scientist now, in my previous life I
coached national & international competitors
in a variety of speed-power related activities
Power Output is the
common denominator
NEEDS ANALYSIS
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
BIOMOTOR ABILITIES
BUILDING ENGINES
YEARLY PLANNING
So, tell me what you
want to accomplish
with training....
What is most
important?
I want to understandhow to make people fast
& powerful!
All of it?
ACCELERATION
CHARACTERISTICS
• Velocity @10m: ~8.2 m/s
• Ground ContactTime: ~0.17 sec
• Height of foot @ 1st step: 12-30cm
• Stride Frequency: 3.6-4 Hz
• Stride Lengths: ~1.5m first step
MAXIMAL VELOCITY
CHARACTERISTICS
• Maximal Velocity: ~12.8 m/s
• Ground Contact Time: ~0.08 sec
• Stride Frequency: ~5 Hz
• Stride Velocity: ~300 deg / sec
• Stride Lengths: 2.25-2.7m
What do the
experts
have to say?
Loren Seagrave
Charlie Francis
To go faster, you
need more force
The main characteristic of elite
sprinting is....transporting
elastic energy from one leg to
the other in the flight phase and
directing the GROUND
REACTION FORCES in stance.
Frans Bosch
The key to human speed is
simple: applying large mass-
specific forces to the
ground quickly
Dr. Peter Weyand
The
Force is
Powerful!
FUNDAMENTAL
CONCEPTS
The goal is to
keep the goal
the goal
F=MA
THE MEAT
MACHINE
• Absorb shock and control vertical
collapse during support
• Balance and control of upper
extremity
• Forward and upward propulsion
• Control direction changes in center
of mass
The Nervous System....hard
wiring for
success
To Sprint Faster.... Sprint!
maximum-maximorum.com
NEWTON’S 4th LAW
Fat (or any excess body mass) don’t fly
Strength ≠ Speed
Biomotor
Abilities
Strength
BIOMOTOR ABILITIES
Strength
Speed
BIOMOTOR ABILITIES
Strength
SpeedFlexibility
BIOMOTOR ABILITIES
Strength
SpeedFlexibility
Endurance
BIOMOTOR ABILITIES
Strength
SpeedFlexibility
Endurance
BIOMOTOR ABILITIES
Coordination
Strength
SpeedFlexibility
Endurance
BIOMOTOR ABILITIES
Coordination
Could several
capacities fall
under a single
umbrella?
instead of thinking this...
Think this...
Maximum Strength Speed
Few
TimeConstraints
ConcentricDominant
ExtremeTimeConstraints
EccentricDominant
LessReflexive
MoreReflexive
OvercomingInertia
MaintainingInertia
Emphasizing
Individual
Capacities....
Emphasizing
Individual
Capacities....
Looking for
Commonalities
of Stimulus....
PUTTING IT ALL
TOGETHER
THE REAL REASON WETRAIN
Almost every physical quality relevant to speed & power falls
under the umbrella of (neuromuscular) coordination
By considering physical qualities as outcomes of inter &
intramuscular coordination we simplify the training method
and place stimuli on a continuum rather than in different
bubbles
Building a Bigger Engine
Building Low
end Power
Training for Low-End Power*
General Specific
Weight Train Hills
Sled Push Resisted Sprints
Short Jumps / Multi-Throws Acceleration Sprints
Quad / glute dominant, Horizontal vector, Concentric, Longer RFD
*sprint specific
GENERAL MEANS FOR
DEVELOPING LOW-END POWER
RESISTANCE TRAINING
“Do I really need to lift?”
“...there is sufficient evidence for
strength training programs to
continue to be an integral part of
athletic preparation.”
“Do I really need to lift?”
OLYMPIC LIFTS
from floor. power clean emphasis. 1-3 reps / set. 5-10 sets.
Exercise Absolute Power (Watts)Absolute Power (Watts)
100kg Male 75kg Female
Bench Press 300
Back Squat 1100
Deadlift 1100
Snatch 3000 1750
Snatch 2nd Pull 5500 2900
Clean 2950 1750
Clean 2nd Pull 5500 2650
Jerk 5400 2600
POWER DEVELOPMENT
*Total pull: Lift-off until maximal vertical velocity
**2nd pull: Transition until maximal vertical barbell velocity
Exercise Absolute Power (Watts)Absolute Power (Watts)
100kg Male 75kg Female
Bench Press 300
Back Squat 1100
Deadlift 1100
Snatch 3000 1750
Snatch 2nd Pull 5500 2900
Clean 2950 1750
Clean 2nd Pull 5500 2650
Jerk 5400 2600
POWER DEVELOPMENT
*Total pull: Lift-off until maximal vertical velocity
**2nd pull: Transition until maximal vertical barbell velocity
Even if use of Olympic lifts are
inappropriate due to lack of
equipment, low teachingexpertise, or athleteinexperience; the basicprincipals should still be
incorporated (externally
loaded, multi-joint, lower body
explosive movement)
SQUATS
all variants. full depth. 2-6 reps / set. 4-7 sets.
RESISTANCE TRAINING
UPPER BODY PULL, PUSH, CORE, AND UNILATERAL STRENGTH
SLED PUSH
Masquerading as Acceleration Development Since the 90s
SLED PUSH
Effective Strength & Conditioning Tool if Used Appropriately
SHORT JUMPS
SLJ, STJ, etc. overcoming inertia. 10-30 jumps / contacts.
MULTI-THROWS
OHB, BLF, etc. full effort. 10-30 throws.
Multi-throw Routines
SPECIFIC MEANS FOR
DEVELOPING LOW-END POWER
Sled Sprints
•Resisted sprints can improve speed*
•When load is appropriate kinematics are unaffected
•Optimal load produces ~10-20% speed decrement
•Length: 10-40m
•Load: Base on quality of movement & speed
•Rest: 30-60 sec / 10m
•Volume: 200-360m
•~10% Rule
<40m per rep ~1’ rest / 10m
<300m total volume
B U i l d i n g
a S t i f f e r
S p r i n g
Vertical force production is
the key component of top-end
speed and that in turn
influences the ability to
maintain a slight increase in
stride length and stride
frequency
Dan Pfaff
Vertical forces become predominant
in the maximal velocity phase. Much
of the horizontal momentum needs
have been established, so vertical
force generation becomes critical.
These vertical forces enhance
stride length and posture.
Boo Schexnayder
Muscle Activity
Training for Stiffness*
General Specific
Weight Train Downhill Running
Olympic Lifts Assisted Sprints
Stiffness Jumps Maximum Velocity Sprints
Hip extensor dominant, Vertical vector, Eccentric, Short RFD, Elastic / reflexive
*sprint specific
GENERAL MEANS FOR
DEVELOPING ELASTICITY
RESISTANCE TRAINING
Olympic Lifts
floor & hang. power clean & snatch. 1-2 reps / set. 5-10 sets.
ECCENTRIC OVERLOAD
110-120% MAXIMAL LOAD. NOT FOR NOVICES.
COMPLEXES
work downstream on F-V curve. rest between sets. low volumes
I like STRONG butts
and I can not lie....
TRAIN THE CHAIN (THE POSTERIOR CHAIN)
PLYOS
DEPTH DROPS
low drops. minimize amortization. low volumes.
DEPTH JUMPS
extreme heights unnecessary. low volumes.
VERTICAL EMPHASIS PLYOS
emphasize vertical displacement of the COM not the feet
STIFFNESS JUMPS
minimal amortization. short contact.
SPECIFIC MEANS FOR
DEVELOPING ELASTICITY
DOWNHILL RUNNING
minimal grade. overspeed. supra-maximal eccentric.
Maximum Velocity Sprinting
•Means:
•Flying Sprints
•Variable Speed Sprints
•Short Speed Endurance
•Length (in MaxV): 10-40m / rep
•Rest: 20-60 sec / 10m
•Volume: 200-300m
Yearly Planning
PLAN
AHEA
•Overload
•Rest & recovery
•Biomotor Balance
•Compatible & complimentary
Training is a Process
OverloadOVERLOAD
Rest & Recovery
UNDERSTAND THIS
RE-EXAMINING HARD / EASY
Traditional training methods have alternated hard and
easy days to facilitate recovery
New technology and better understandings of the
body and training stimulus permit better options
ALTERNATION OFTRAINING
MEANS
• By alternating high and low CNS an athlete can allow some
systems of the body to rest while others are recovering
• Alternatively, one could split activities by eccentric and
concentric dominance
High-Low CNS
• High CNS: higher intensity,
maximal efforts of higher load or
speed of movement
• Low CNS: lower intensity, aerobic,
higher work capacity
Ecc-Conc Demand
• Eccentric dominant: typically
higher velocity involving
decelerative forces
• Concentric dominant: typically
higher force, lower velocity
involving accelerative forces
BIOMOTOR BALANCE
M
obility?
STATIC FLEXIBILITY?
HURDLE MOBILITY
ENDURANCE FORTHE SPEED-
POWER ATHLETE
• Current understandings of energy systems indicate that there is an
aerobic stimulus from many activities previously deemed purely
anaerobic
• Aerobic training plays a support role to the speed-power athlete but
can quickly be overemphasized
• Intermittent activities rather than steady state are a preferred option
AEROBIC FITNESS
WORK CAPACITY is a
far more relevant form
of endurance for the
speed power athlete
WORK CAPACITY is a
far more relevant form
of endurance for the
speed power athlete
Body Weight Strength
General Endurance Circuits
Weight Circuits
Kettlebell Complexes
Med Ball Circuits
SPRINT DEVELOPMENT DRILLS
ORGANIZATION OF
TRAINING MEANS
Do you like
Sea Food?
Do you like seafood ice cream?
Things that are good separately may
not be good together!
Make sure training components are
compatible & complimentary
ORGANIZATION OF
TRAINING MEANS
Everyone has the “bricks”
How you arrange training modules is just
as important as what you arrange
Some things you should
never do
Some things you should
never do
dedicated steady state aerobic conditioning
too much anaerobic-glycolytic training
mixing stimulus...interference effect
neglecting the role of rest
unscripted, poorly planned static flexibility training
Know what capacities
need to be trained &
what trains them
Simplify by placing allphysical capacities on a
single continuum
Move from general to more
specific training means
Focus on quality ofmovement & effort
Keep the goal the goal
Attain biomotor balance
MIKE@ATHLETICLAB.COM
TWITTER.COM/MIKEYOUNG
FACEBOOK.COM/MIKEYOUNG
ATHLETICLAB.COM
ELITETRACK.COM
HPCSPORT.COM

Biomotor Development for the Speed-Power Athlete