The Importance of Football Speed Training

Football is a game that requires a unique combination of strength, speed, power, stamina and mental toughness.  It is a very unforgiving game.  If you aren’t serious about your training, you will get left behind.

What is the first thing that college athletes say when they make it to the pros?  The speed of the game.  For every level or progression in football, there is a huge increase in speed.  Obviously, you need to make sure your football speed training address these needs

The last thing you want to do is waste your time with the latest fancy gadgets.  You also don’t want to waste time doing long boring cardio, or jogging.  None of this will actually increase your performance on the field.  And performance is the name of this game.

Rather than getting too technical, sometimes the simplest answer is the best.  Keep in mind I said simple, not easy.  One of the most effective exercises, with a direct carry over to football speed is HILL SPRINTS!!

First of all, hill sprints teach you proper running mechanics as well as placing your body in a safer position.  Because of the angle created by the hill, there is far less impact from each foot strike. This greatly reduces the risk of pulling a hammy or popping an Achilles or something in your knee.

Secondly, hill sprints will increase the power in your legs. They are a perfect combination of strength and speed training. And obviously, improving your speed and strength simultaneously will carry over directly to your performance on the field.

Because the hill increases the intensity of the sprints, it will teach your muscles to fire quickly and powerfully.  You will develop that powerful first step.  This speed will help you get to the next level before the opposition can close in on you.  If you are a running back, this first step quickness can be the difference between a 2 yd loss and a 5 yd gain.

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Obviously your football workouts already work the hips, glutes, hamstrings and calves, but hill sprints stress these muscles in a different way.  The difference between hill and flat sprints serve as a form of muscle confusion.  This can help you break through any plateau that you might encounter.  Hill sprints could be the difference in your overall football speed development..

Finally, hill sprints dramatically improve your football conditioning.  Being able to hit top speed in the fourth quarter while you competition is sucking wind will make you an elite football player.   They push your lung capacity and heart to new levels, increasing their volume and allowing you to circulate more oxygen.  Hill sprints also condition your body to pump more blood to your muscles when necessary.  Training in this way will increase your ability to recover between plays.   After running so many hill sprints, the game itself will feel like you are running downhill.

So give Hill Sprints a try, and I think you will find they have a dramatic effect on your football speed training.  If you would like more help setting up your football speed training, I recommend you check out the best speed program I have found.  It’s called “Ultimate Speed Development” by Jim Kielbaso MS, CSCS is a former Division I Collegiate Strength Coach who has been training athletes for over 15 years.

 

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