Rockjumper, I think I would question the validity of your elite coaches’ “observation” concerning high heel recovery during the start. The point is that Ben intuitively puts himself in the best position to accelerate out of the blocks. To force any change would be a huge mistake.
I was looking through the pages, but it seemed like this was the only part of the string that dealt with acceleration because the rest focused on top speed running.
The methods used by this coach may have been developed through years of coaching a particular type of athlete (male vs female, college vs elite). I do question his thinking, but that’s what I do anytime I come across something new like the theory behind Ben’s start. Biomechanically speaking, to accelerate faster more force in the negative direction needs to be applied to the track. Your are right, there is a lot of academic jargon to confuse people with, however as a coach, looking to see if the foot is achieving negative foot speed before touchdown is an applicable method to try (even if you don’t agree) just as Charlie’s coaching cues when he worked with Ben. Next time T+F is televised, tape it and slow motion the start (download it onto a computer if possible) and watch the foot mechanics of these athletes. This shows most other coaches have adopted this very technique.
Starting on page 15 talks about starts specifically.
Yes, negative foot speed is important; and are achieved by most athletes -including Ben. But, based on my understanding, coaching cues for negative footspeed (i.e. pawing) can be detrimental to proper sprinting.
Rockjumper
You’re right that low heel recovery is effective but Ben’s heel recovery is about as low as it can be, given the extention of the foot (you’ll see this with Ashford also, among others) Watch again (it’s easier to see from the front)
Sorry, didn’t get to page 15…will check it out now.
Charlie,
He does have a relatively low heel recovery as you noted. Question: What other types of starting technique did you try with Ben when he was younger?
No other method was used as this was natural and effective for him. No other athlete in my group started that way, yet they also had excellent starts- particularly Mark McKoy and Desai Williams.
can anyone post a clip of a front on view of ato’s start from cwg 98?
Originally posted by bLiNk_mE
can anyone post a clip of a front on view of ato’s start from cwg 98?
Here you go, sorry about the size.
thanx for the clip dude 
Oba has to go in the running for “Worst reaction time ever” award for that performance.
It’s almost as if he had a philisophic debate with himself - first of all wether there was a sound that he believed was the gun, followed by does the gun really exist or if he simply believed in the gun and therefore believed that it should make a noise - then decided to start.
lol -
to start or not to start - that is the question
Thanks Charlie
Charlie I know that you had ben johnson do speedwork alone most of the time. I was wondering how often ben would perform block starts head to head against other members of the training group?
-Dr.Sprint
The side to side movements in the start Increase stability by:
1- Increased size of the base of support, If Ben applied forces in a more linear direction then his Centre of gravity would have moved further outside the base of support causing the COG to fall towards the ground.
2-Lower vertical postion of the COG
The technique used by Ben in the start would not work for most
sprinters because they dont have the strength levels to make such a technique effective.