Speed Training For Agility

One of the basic requirements that athletes need to have especially during game play is speed and agility. An athlete does not only need strength in the game, to be able to perform certain task during game play much more is required. This is the reason why athletes must incorporate speed training in their exercise regimen. Speed training exercises or drills help athletes to improve and maximize the speed of their movement without exerting too much effort or strength.

Speed alone can be a great value during events; however speed can also show weakness when agility is not incorporated. Speed training for agility involves training programs that assist athletes not only in improving their speed but also assist them to stop and change direction without decelerating and harming oneself.

It is important to remember that improving speed training for agility is not just simply relying on strength. From table tennis to rugby, different athletes can execute various techniques by harnessing speed and agility to boost acceleration and better movement throughout the game.

All about Speed Training for Agility

As mentioned above, agility is how the body responses quickly when moving, stopping or changing in directions which can be considered as a technique in various sports. In the game of football, running backs are one of the players in football that must have agility to break-through a hole or finding a way to achieve touchdowns. Another example is in the field of boxing, boxing is known for developing pure strength. However, agility is also needed in boxing, where changing stance, countering attacks, and avoiding punches are possible with agility.

Ways on improving agility

1. Execute different exercises or drills that require constant change of directions.
2. Draw a cross-line on the floor with a chalk or any markers and try to hop into each quadrant every 20-30 seconds.
3. Facilitate workouts by performing clockwise, counterclockwise and other changing patterns to develop the mind and body to be more attentive when needed.
4. Provide a name or number on each quadrant and have a coach or partner randomly call-out the selected name or number during the workout.

Agility in Speed

Agility corresponds with speed. Acquiring speed in speed training for agility requires training the whole body to move in a quick pace while enhancing the muscle to respond faster compared to normal individuals. Speed must also be developed before harnessing agility; the training session for speed is commonly done through 5 sets with 10 repetitions. There are two kinds of training for speed:

• Resistive speed training, which refers the total length of the stride
• Assistive speed training described as increasing the number off strides utilized.

Incorporating Agility and Speed

The best way to improve agility is by incorporating it in speed training. There are many different exercises or drills when it comes to improving speed and agility work-out. It involves an athlete to conduct a series of combined sprinting obstacles in different phases.

Running, sprinting, hurdling, rope grids, shoot through tires and moving forward are some of the obstacles referred to. In addition to the obstacles, evading moving or swinging heavy bags while running can be combined to give difficulty to the activity. These obstacles can help boost athletes in improving not only through speed but agility as well, which is needed by a lot of athletes.

For athletes to perform at their best; they must include the basic requirements needed during game play. Aside from strength, they must also possess and improve their agility in the speed training program. Individuals, especially athletes must keep in mind never to remain stagnant and always try and find ways to improve themselves especially with strength and agility.