strength exercises can be seen on Youtube. Also, the powerblaster serves as a pull or push sled; a means for pull-ups and a traditional rolling peck exercise.

Use the same test equipment and procedure:

Athlete selection has both subjective and objective components. The subjective components include attitude, recommendations, and team track records. The objective components include an athlete’s actual physical performance scores. The physical performance scores are the numbers that are used to objectively rank athletes. With the extreme competition for a few openings, slight differences in these numbers can make the difference of making the team or not.

It is extremely important for an athlete to achieve competitive scores to be considered for college programs. It is more important, however, to be able achieve or surpass these numbers when called to the tryouts. Although techniques for training and timing the speed trials are always the subject of debate, most colleges have adopted a Fully Automated Timing (F.A.T.) system that starts the time when the athlete leaves the starting line and stops the time when the athlete passes the laser finish point. Athletes who train using the same F.A.T. system have a competitive advantage by knowing the times reported are going to be the same as the times demonstrated.

When determining and improving an athlete’s speed numbers, using the same, F.A.T. methodology is of critical importance. Previously, F.A.T. timing systems were cost- prohibitive for most individuals or teams. There is a new line of timing systems available that provide F.A.T. One popular system is manufactured in the United States by Zybek Athletic Products (zybeksports.com). Although more expensive than a stop watch, this F.A.T. may be an affordable option for individuals or team training.

ZAP manufactures a system that measures the 10 / 20 / 40 yard splits, as demonstrated at the 2011 NFL combine. ZAP also manufactures a lower-cost system that measures just one time (PowerDash 1X). The PowerDash 1X uses the exact same position-start system as used for the more expensive 2X and 3X F.A.T. With ZAP’s position start, the time is started when the athlete lifts their hand when the run is started.

Training with a F.A.T. system can be used to improve the time. In reviewing historical combine data, the fastest athlete in the 10 yard is almost always the fastest in the 40. Also, in reviewing the breakdown of the 10 yard run, the initial acceleration through the first 5 yards is what separates the top athletes from the rest. Serious athletes can train daily with a FAT system located at their gym or even home. It only takes a 30 foot long space and a FAT timing system to work on the numbers every day.

For more advanced 10 yard speed optimization, many coaches will use a split times located at intervals between the start and the 10 yard marker. Training an athlete to maximizing the acceleration through the 10 yard portion of the run is what yields the best results. Having consistent, accurate baseline numbers for the feedback are critical for determining if an athlete is improving.