Let’s test your knowledge of locomotion

30 August 2010 - by admin

Let’s test your knowledge of locomotion.

1. Skipping, in all directions is great for improving which of the following:

a. Pure starting speed
b. Absolute speed
c. Coordination
d. Maximal acceleration

ANSWER: c. Coordination

2. Rank the following skills in the order you feel they are most easily learned according to development and body control.

a. Leaping, jumping, hopping
b. Jumping, leaping, hopping
c. Hopping, leaping, jumping
d. Hopping, jumping, leaping

ANSWER: b. Jumping, leaping, hopping

3. When teaching backpedaling into a turn and run, turning 180 degrees from a backpedal to a sprint, what should the foot work look like?

a. If turning to the right, plant the right foot firmly and step over the right foot with the left foot.
b. If turning to the right, perform a slight jump turn to completely open the hips so you can quickly run.
c. If turning to the right, perform a quick shuffle step to coordinate the feet so the athlete doesn’t trip then complete the turn and run.
d. If turning to the right, push off the left foot allowing the hips, shoulder, and right leg to open and prepare to plant to push off as the left leg comes through like in normal gait.

ANSWER: d. If turning to the right, push off the left foot allowing the hips, shoulder, and right leg to open and prepare to plant to push off as the left leg comes through like in normal gait.

Understanding foundational locomotion is extremely important when developing young athletes and helping more advanced athletes during assessments.

Being a coach who can recognize the issues that occur during basic running, sprinting, acceleration, skipping, and change of direction empowers you and your athletes.

Start by understanding two things:

Basic biomechanics of movement
How physical movement occurs (physics)

If you have a basic knowledge of the biomechanics of gait, jumping, leaping, hopping you can start to stack together multiple skills. This is how skips and shuffles are created.

By understanding physical movement you can start to see how force production and force reduction are best served to accomplish a skill. Quick acceleration from an athletic stance will need certain things to occur in order to be effective. If you know what those are you are empowered as a coach of movement.

I have created many sports specific DVDs and products, but without a doubt the reason I created Low Box Training for Athletes and Ground Breaking 2 is so coaches can grasp the foundational skills of movement.

Yours in Speed,

Lee

PS: This weekend I spoke at a seminar put on by Mike Robertson, and my topic was “How to Load the System for Functional Speed.” I shared some basic and advanced techniques to ensure the attendees understood the potential of having these coaching skills. They are the same skills I demonstrate in www.LowBoxTraining.com and www.GroundBreaking2.com