When training for sports do you think it’s best to stick to the track for more “general” speed work or suit up in full gear on the playing surface for more “specific” speed work?
Hmmm… a tough one!
Maybe both! But I wouldn’t give spikes to soccer players etc
I am just interested what would other say…
At the professional rugby league club i spent 6 years at we did speed 2-3 times a week in the pre season and once a week during the season…
before i got there they did all sessions inc tempo runs on the track and had severe injury rates…
i reduced it down to primarily working on acceleration on the track in spikes and keep all other work on the grass and once the trial games started aborted all track sessions…
but we also did sprint warm ups not the usual lame match day warm up i witnessed on many occaisons.
the results, speed, injury and results wise had 6 great seasons
when training for sports we work primarily on grass it is easier on the joints and it is where most of my athlete compete however we do change surfaces
well the harder track surfaces allow for greater speed work and eclleation work, but i would mix it up like sujested above.
Can it be said that sprints with full gear on(eg. football pads) are less taxing on the CNS and therefore require less time for recovery between reps? Also, I notice that getting used to running in padding requires a different level of muscular coordination than without… therefore wouldn’t it be most beneficial to run with gear on to get used to the coordination you need in a game?
Yes it would be. But your form is going to suffer greatly. I use to play football and i know what your saying by a different muscle cordnation (its alot more in the hips & back) But there is a time for training in pads and training with out them, since it only takes a week or so to get use to the pads. Now i see what your saying by wanting your muscles to be use to the pads but if your a strong runner then the pads should not slow you down by more than a tenth or two. But i dont see how the sprinting with pads is less taxing on the CNS then with out them. The only reason you would want to have less time in betwen reps is to get the body use to the back to back plays of football. But you wouldnt want to do this all off season i would only incorperate it three weeks or so befor the season and then through out the season. Since football is a sport of physicall toughness.
If your goal is developing the physical capacity to produce more speed or better acceleration, then get some spikes and head to the track. Practices provide plenty of time for converting this capacity into game speed.