Speed relating to athletic performance, is the multifaceted function of the person; both mental and physical, to accelerate as quickly as possible to reach (i.e.: distance over time) a predetermined destination or end point that is to be measured equal to the ability to maximize Ground Reaction Force (GRF: the amount of mass-specific force that can be applied to the ground in the shortest possible time and in the correct direction). (NASE: Essentials Of Next-Generation Sports Speed Training, Chapter 2, page 46, paragraph 2.) 

Throughout my experiences participating in speed and endurance events in both track and field and cross-country; I have learned that there is substance between the ideas of the 10,000-Rule training principles and heredity/genetics.  Being Team Captain, I personally have witnessed the effects of this concept and the success “perceived mediocre athletes” have achieved through constant training, visualization techniques, and their training age related to the sport in which they are training in.  This is also true when dealing with general population exercisers throughout my career and profession as a coach/trainer at Stava Athletics LLC, (https://www.stavaathletics.com) where the clients have made dramatic improvements in their physical and mental health. 

Through studying the NASE literature, I have learned and hope to learn more processes and systems to enhance the GRF and subsequent speed of the clients/athletes that I have the pleasure of working with. 

In all facets of life and sport, we are not only genetically/hereditarily influenced with a perceived idea of our ability to achieve a goal, but also influenced by our environments.  Muscle fiber types play a role in the ability of an athlete to either excel in aerobic or anaerobic events in sport.  Significant research in muscle fiber types: ST Red (Type 1), FT Red (Type IIa), and FT White (Type IIb) support the idea that certain athletes are limited in abilities of performance and their GRF producing capabilities, but also are anecdotal based off of the variance of athletic champions throughout all professional sports throughout time. Our environments can be split into many components: environmental, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and physical.  If we can take a more holistic approach that incorporates the individual’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing; we can optimize the overall performance not only in activities of daily living, but also in sports performance.  (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6873694/) 

As discussed in The Training and Development of Elite Sprint Performance: an Integration of Scientific and Best Practice Literature, the belief and scientific literature states that “world-class sprint performance is limited”.   That being said, between what is written in NASE’s: Next-Generation Sports Speed Training and the above-referenced study; both agree that “sprint performance is heavily dependent upon genetic traits”, but also variables that can influence increases in speed performance (e.g., power, technique, and sprint-specific endurance) are trainable.  (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6873694/) 

NASE uses the 120-Yard Sprint, which focuses on one test with eight key speed scores to determine areas of strength and the areas of improvement throughout the phases of the start, acceleration, maximum speed, deceleration, and the stride rate of the athlete’s performance during the sprint.  The main objective is to discover the areas of imbalance related to the overall GRF production of the athlete. 

EXOS in Phoenix, Arizona is an example that uses the 4 Pillars of Performance, which are: Mindset, Nutrition, Movement, and Recovery; and have had amazing success with future NFL athletes that are and have participated in the NFL combine.  EXOS uses similar concepts of increasing GRF and limiting GCT (Ground Contact Time).  As of February 11th, 2021; EXOS has led the industry with around 43% of their preparation program participating athletes becoming first-round draft pics. (https://www.teamexos.com/pro-day-workouts/)  These training principles have shown measurable improvements in their athlete’s performance.  The proof is in the pudding.  

There are common protocols and modalities when assessing the athletes in these areas, but each performance enhancement entity runs their own series of assessments to determine areas for improvement for the athlete based off the sport and position being played. 

Whether it be technique and skills assessments related to the sport, nutrition and biometrics related to the athlete, and or mindset and visualization related to the individual and event.  These are used to enhance not only the speed of the athlete’s body, but to bridge the gap of how fast the brain cells fire to initiate the responses needed to perform at such a high level relating to GRF and performance during these events. 

NASE and EXOS, along with most entities that optimize performance in athletes; assess an athlete’s performance in speed by running distances focusing on 40m – 120m sprints. The areas of assessment and the consensus relating to the “Start/Acceleration/Maximum Velocity/Deceleration” phases of speed and performance are very similar in practice and in theory. 

Whether we are discussing the importance of linear speed or multidirectional speed related to professional sports, evidence has shown through the NFL Combine; that a .10 second difference can be the difference between meters behind or ahead in a race or an event, round placement in a draft, and thus millions of dollars for a professional athlete. 

(Dintiman, 2020), (Haugen, Seiler, Sandbakk, & Tonnessen, 2019)