June July 2024 - 22

Speed Training
Need for Speed
The evolution of the football speed coach
By Adam Rolf, Physical Therapist, 1080 Motion
T
he game of football continues to evolve.
Twenty-first-century players are bigger,
faster, and stronger. But of these three
physical traits, speed remains the most coveted.
In 1975, the Dallas Cowboys hired Bob Ward as the
strength & conditioning (S&C) coach. Ward was not only
a football guy having played collegiately and coached
high school but he was also a track coach; thus, there
was a focus on sprinting speed in his program (see
Spor ts Speed by Dintiman and Ward, first published
in 1988).
During this same era, Cowboys president and GM Tex
Schramm pushed for a more comprehensive scouting
combine. Today, the 40-yard dash is the highlight and
key event of the NFL Combine.
Along with this need to make speed happen, several
college football programs began designating one of
the S&C coaches as the " speed guy " instead of inviting
the track coach to the facility for one or a few training
sessions every off-season.
In turn, this has become a dedicated position for many
programs with the likes of Cam Josse of Auburn, Kyle
22 | Training & Conditioning | June/July 2024
Bolton of Oregon, and others. This evolution over the
past 5-10 years has also been highly influenced by Dr.
Matt Rhea, particularly during his time alongside S&C
coach Dave Ballou at Indiana and Alabama. In their first
year at Indiana, they helped guide the squad from six
players capable of sprinting 21 mph, all the way up to 34
with an average increase in maximal velocity of 2.5 mph!
Furthermore, university researchers Dr. Ken Clark
of West Chester University and Dr. JB Morin of the
Université Jean Monnet (France) have also impacted
this trend. Clark has been influential
in the application of sprint mechanics and in
creating and analyzing sprint velocity profiles. Morin
has demonstrated effective training methods for
acceleration and maximal sprinting velocity via the
sprint force-velocity profile.
Not only has there been an evolution in the speed
coach but also in the equipment. To enhance
the sprint force-velocity profiling and training of
speed, many of these practitioners and researchers
are turning to unique motorized or digital equipment
such as the 1080 Sprint. These devices can provide

June July 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June July 2024

Editors Letter: Elevating Excellence
Raising the Standards: Introducing the 2024 most valuable athletic trainers of the year
2024 State of the Industry: ATCs describe the landscape of high school sports in our annual survey
CSCCa Strength Focus
CPSDA Nutrition Focus
Need for Speed: The evolution of the football speed coach
InFocus: Exploring innovative modalities in athletic rehabilitation
Q&ATC: A conversation NYSATA President Lauren Stephenson
Teaching for Improvements: What promotes neuroplasticity?
NATA AT Expo Preview: See what the NATA 2024 Convention & AT Expo has in store for you
Therapy Focus
T&C Tech Guide
Sole Survivor: VKTRY Insoles’ advanced technology helps athletes reduce injuries
Optimal Oxygen: How VO2 Max test scores can correlate with athletic success
Product Marketplace
Ad Index
June July 2024 - 1
June July 2024 - 2
June July 2024 - 3
June July 2024 - Editors Letter: Elevating Excellence
June July 2024 - 5
June July 2024 - Raising the Standards: Introducing the 2024 most valuable athletic trainers of the year
June July 2024 - 7
June July 2024 - 8
June July 2024 - 9
June July 2024 - 2024 State of the Industry: ATCs describe the landscape of high school sports in our annual survey
June July 2024 - 11
June July 2024 - 12
June July 2024 - 13
June July 2024 - CSCCa Strength Focus
June July 2024 - 15
June July 2024 - 16
June July 2024 - 17
June July 2024 - CPSDA Nutrition Focus
June July 2024 - 19
June July 2024 - 20
June July 2024 - 21
June July 2024 - Need for Speed: The evolution of the football speed coach
June July 2024 - 23
June July 2024 - 24
June July 2024 - 25
June July 2024 - 26
June July 2024 - InFocus: Exploring innovative modalities in athletic rehabilitation
June July 2024 - A2
June July 2024 - A3
June July 2024 - A4
June July 2024 - A5
June July 2024 - A6
June July 2024 - A7
June July 2024 - A8
June July 2024 - Q&ATC: A conversation NYSATA President Lauren Stephenson
June July 2024 - 28
June July 2024 - 29
June July 2024 - Teaching for Improvements: What promotes neuroplasticity?
June July 2024 - 31
June July 2024 - 32
June July 2024 - NATA AT Expo Preview: See what the NATA 2024 Convention & AT Expo has in store for you
June July 2024 - 34
June July 2024 - 35
June July 2024 - 36
June July 2024 - 37
June July 2024 - Therapy Focus
June July 2024 - 39
June July 2024 - 40
June July 2024 - T&C Tech Guide
June July 2024 - Sole Survivor: VKTRY Insoles’ advanced technology helps athletes reduce injuries
June July 2024 - 43
June July 2024 - Optimal Oxygen: How VO2 Max test scores can correlate with athletic success
June July 2024 - 45
June July 2024 - 46
June July 2024 - 47
June July 2024 - 48
June July 2024 - Product Marketplace
June July 2024 - Ad Index
June July 2024 - 51
June July 2024 - 52
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