Will the athlete with better acceleration always posses better deceleration too?
Not necessarily
I would suspect that the potential to develop greater deceleration abilities would be improved depending on their speed abilities as f=m x a. The other factor would be mass.
Not to beat a dead horse, but wouldn’t AMT (Auxometronics) and Jay Shroeder’s methods be effective here? After all isn’t agility the absorption of force and acceleration? Jay’s methods seem to address the absorption of force not only for the lower body but the upper body as well. I am refering to the the Jay Shroeder/Adam Archuletta DVD. I don’t agree with everything he does in the DVD but I think its worth a look.
http://www.charliefrancis.com/community/showthread.php?t=453&highlight=AMT
http://www.charliefrancis.com/community/showthread.php?t=8484&page=1&pp=15
What is a eccentric strength and how it is measured (biomechanically)? What is decceleration ability and how it is measured?
Instead of eccentric strength, maybe a negative power is better term? Opinions?
Why I am saying this? Because, eccentric srength is usually measured by the force expression in lengthenning contraction (F-V relation), and the load that can be lowered in N secs…
Negative power is the ability to absorb power… Greater negative power, faster the stop? Opinions?
Everyone should read this article !!!
Starting from standing; why step backwards?
G.A. Kraan!,*, J. van Veen", C.J. Snijders!, J. Storm!
Journal of Biomechanics 34 (2001) 211}215
Eccentric refers more to the status of the muscle, as you know, with the expression of power as its result. You could refer to “negative power” meaning eccentric, but I wouldn’t substitute (at least in my mind) one for the other. Also, I would be careful how others perceived the word “negative”.
I don’t really get all this talk about “stepping backwards”. It happens naturally, doesn’t it? And it will probably improve on its own -if needed- with an improved coordination. Besides, as I am sure you’ve seen in BBall, a version of this action happens during light running while dribbling, in order to further accelerate and pass your opponent, no? As a little “hop” step… Perhaps I am missing something, but I was even more “confused” by the discussion in the other forum you sent… 
The issue is: NOT TO FORBID that action – the thing that coaches usually do!
I am new to this concept too…
Agility
http://nsca.allenpress.com/nscaonline/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1519%2F1533-4295(2006)28[24:AROAPA]2.0.CO%3B2
http://nsca.allenpress.com/nscaonline/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1519%2F1533-4295(2006)28[72:MLFAP]2.0.CO%3B2
Oh my! Yes, of course! Playing God again, why didn’t I think of that… :rolleyes:
Two good artilces!
A Review of Agility: Practical Applications for Strength and Conditioning
Motor Learning—Applications for Agility, Part 1
Aviable here.
A must read!
Charlie and others, please read them!