Different cues are appropriate for different athletes. Some need to think “lift” while others need to think “downforce”. Some respond to initiating with the arms, while others respond to emphasis on lower limb mechanics.
The key is to understand the correct technical model and then employ a method to have the athlete arrive at that model. This may take one of many different routes. It may involve specific drills, or it may involve a specific emphasis during sprint repetitions.
Discussing the appropriate technical model is a tall order. I have been going through much of the material I learned from Charlie and will run it by Ange and others who worked closely with Charlie over the years. This includes the many hours of video footage I have of Charlie working with athletes and presenting material in workshops. The goal is to capture as much of Charlie’s wisdom in a training manual that he never had the time to complete. Although CFTS and Speed Trap have wonderful information, I truly believe that Charlie continued to grow his knowledge to a point where no one could touch him (kind of like Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda when they passed on).
I believe Charlie had an exceptional, unprecedented grasp of sprint mechanics and how to get an athlete to their optimal mechanics. You could see his brilliance working with both the elite sprinters and the novice sprinters. This information should be made public to set the record straight on sprint mechanics.
I can’t wait til it is made public…when it comes to sprinting i’m like a science geek…I know everyone has different qualities but we do need an optimal technical model…Coaches and scientists should come together to make more sense of it instead of arguing points and saying who is right or wrong because at the end of the day it’s how the individual interprets it…