Optimizing Athletic Speed: Performance Factors and Development

Speed: Definition and Core Concepts

Speed is the quality that allows an individual to perform motor actions in the shortest possible time and with maximum efficiency.

Phases of a Speed Race

• Reaction: The initial response to a stimulus.
• Acceleration: The phase of increasing velocity.
• Top Speed: The maximum velocity achieved.
• Resistance to Speed: The ability to maintain high speed despite fatigue.

Factors Influencing Speed

• Muscle Factors:
  • Leverage Layout: Quick movements often involve third-degree levers.
  • Muscle Capabilities: Includes muscle tone, elongation capacity, muscle viscosity, and fiber type (fast-twitch fibers are white and contract quickly; slow-twitch fibers are red and contract slowly).
• Nervous Factors:
  • Intramuscular Coordination: The ability of muscles to work together efficiently.
  • Type of Innervation: The neural control of muscle contraction.
• Training Factors:
  • Strength and Power: Increased force or power from muscle contraction leads to increased acceleration of motor gestures.
  • Alactic Capacity: Permits extended high-intensity work.
  • Flexibility: Contributes to range of motion and efficient movement.
  • Technical Improvement: Refinement of movement patterns.
• Other Factors:
  • Genetics/Heritage
  • Sex and Age
  • Body Scale/Size
  • Nutrition
  • Motivation
  • Fatigue
  • Environmental Conditions: Weather, Temperature, Race Surface, Altitude.

Types of Speed Manifestations

Pure Manifestations of Speed

These are largely genetic and depend on factors related to the Central Nervous System (CNS). They include reaction speed, gestural speed, and speed of movement.

Speed of Reaction

Reaction time is the sum of pre-motor reaction time and motor reaction time. Pre-motor reaction time (TR) accounts for 75-80% of the total reaction time, while motor reaction time accounts for 15-25%. This involves the time from stimulus to muscle movement.

Types of Reaction

• Simple Reaction: A pre-determined movement in response to a known stimulus.
• Complex Reaction: Selecting the appropriate action from several options in response to specific situations.

Factors Influencing Reaction Speed

• Intensity and duration of the stimulus
• Age and Sex
• Height and Body Position
• Fatigue
• Training Level
• Psychological Adaptation

Gestural Speed

This is the capacity to perform a segmental or overall movement in the shortest possible time.

Factors Influencing Gestural Speed

• Laterality (e.g., left-handed vs. right-handed)
• Movement History/Experience
• Specific Limb or Segment Used
• Level of Movement Learning/Skill Acquisition
• Sex

Speed of Displacement

This is the capacity to cover a short distance in the shortest possible time.

Factors Influencing Speed of Displacement

• Stride Breadth: Depends on flexibility, impulse capacity, length of levers (limbs), and execution technique.
• Stride Frequency: Depends on muscle contraction speed, strength, and execution technique.

Speed in Combination with Other Physical Qualities

• Power: The ability to generate the greatest impulse in both cyclic and acyclic movements against a small resistance.
• Resistance to Speed (Speed Endurance): The capacity to resist a reduction in speed due to fatigue.
• Agility: The ability to change body position with speed and effectiveness.

Biological Evolution and Development Stages of Speed

• Historically, speed development was linked to coordination and strength.
• Speed training can begin at early ages. The period between 7 and 13 years is considered the most sensitive for developing gestural movement frequency and overall speed.
• In early puberty, a temporary drop in speed performance may occur due to discoordination.
• Between 15 and 17 years, it becomes crucial to focus on specific execution techniques.
• Displacement speed continues to increase, reaching its maximum between 18-23 years.
• From 23 to 35 years, further performance improvements are still possible.