sprinting style

Expert Discussion Advanced Sprint Training
1

"Can an athlete refine his or her sprint technique? Expert performers have little room for improvement. Positive changes can only be made after the athlete or coach has identified the athlete’s sprinting style. Once the style has been identified the focus and purpose of all training activities should become a pursuit of style excellence. The gain in performance may be just a fraction of a second. The cost of improvement will be time and effort.

The two basic sprinting styles are the frequency method and the swing style. The frequency method relies primarily on leg and arm speed. The athlete cycles through his / her performances with maximum turnover. Stride length is a secondary component of running speed. These athletes are brutally fast! The second style, the swing style, is identifiable by the elongation of the running cycle. Each mechanical running phase is completed with fluidity. The swing style sprinter is graceful and appears to be the “natural runner”. The sprinter floats effortlessly around the track.

Classified Champion Athletes

Frequency Method Sprinters

Jesse Owens, Michael Johnson, Donovan Baily, Dennis Mitchell, Leroy Burrel, Ben Johnson, Henry Neal, Irina Privalova, Gail Devers, Martin Krulee, Phil Rasker

Swing Style Sprinters

Butch Reynolds, Carl Lewis, Jeff Williams, Frank Fredericks, Michael Marsh, Alonzo Babbers, Jeff Williams, Saunder Nix, Stan Vincent, Larry James, Steve Lewis, Edwin Moses, Merlene Ottey, Marie Perec, Fred Sowerby, Bill Collins, Kevin Nance, Thomas Jones, Richard Thomas, Stephen Robbins, Clifton McKenzie

The Master sprinter must make specific and measured adjustment in training to retain style. A problem Master sprint training programs must address is how to retain a youthful sprint technique. The Master sprinter learns that staying injury free is the primary factor correlated with high levels of performance. A frequency method sprinter’s program should include resistance training, plyometrics, and overspeed activities. A swing style sprinter’s program should include long sprint sessions and flexibility exercises. Form drills should be included in both training programs. The drills should be developed to strengthen the components of the athlete’s identified style".

I pulled it of the web, do forum members/coaches think there is any merit to it?

2

Sounds interesting but I think training methods would be very similar for both.

3

regardless of what people say we all sprint differently.whether your X or Y sprinter you still have to run.we all have different lever lenghts and to copy someones mechanics should be avoided.of course we can all refine sprint mechanics and this topic should be the very base of sprinting fast.all the smooth athletes are all relaxed!!! take a look at all the SMTC guys.lewis,marsh,burrell,witherspoon,deloach–all these guys looked silky smooth and all are different heights,weights and have different limb lengths.if i was coaching kids/teenagers i would let them run naturally.lets not forget that sprinting mechanics are natural-look at kids running.its coaches that cause the problems,having there athletes change this or that to look like carl lewis etc.his perants never tampered with his technique as a youngster but they did have him do drills,they let nature be and didn’t change anything

4

I agree completely. One of my coachs screwed up my sprint mechanics for a long time.

Let the speed/weight training, strength and flexibility gains dictate your cadence and stride length and let the runner run naturally.

5

I don’t see these classifications as having merit- Leroy Burrell, frequency?? While natural technique must always be considered, drills for improving sprinting technique and power are the same anyway.

6

I don’t agree with those classifications: example Gail Devers frequency? her stride length relative to body height is the longest ever, same ratio than Florence Griffith-Joyner and Christine Arron (over 1.40). I wouldn’t rank Privalova in the frequency class, i wish she had more frequency in her technique!

Fredericks is more on the frequency side for me.