fitnessASSIST

How rapidly an athlete can accelerate is, more often than not, a determining factor in sporting success. Think of that five yard rapid acceleration in football to gain first-touch of the ball, the power generated from a standing start to initiate tackle breaking force in rugby, or the power endurance required to repeatedly sustain quality sprints in an outfield position in cricket.

In direction change sports in particular, acceleration is of greater importance than outright maximum speed; it takes a 100metre track athlete approximately 60metres to attain maximum speed, with everything prior to this being acceleration!

For example, in rugby union players will, on average, perform:-

• Approximately 9 efforts at ‘full speed' per match
• Between 14 and 24metres as an average ‘high speed' distance covered
• More than 540 changes of activity per game (made up of: walk, jog, cruise, sprint, ruck & maul, intense static activity, scrum, tackle, etc)
• Approximately 83 ‘high intensity' efforts per game (high intensity efforts are classified as: running, sprinting, rucking/mauling, scrummaging and tackling)
• Between 35secs and 88secs recovery between high intensity efforts

Clearly the emphasis here would be to prioritise acceleration training; players are required, by the dynamics of the game, to accelerate into more situations than any other activity type during a match. Using a sprint sled provides the opportunity to load a player up with low to moderate resistance, emphasise good sprint technique and work over distances relevant to those encountered in match play (5, 10, 15, 20, 25metres), and build up repetitions and sets progressively.

• Constructed from heavy-duty tubular steel
• Powder coated in red.
• Weighs 6.5kg
• Takes weight plates designed to fit 2.5cm (1") bars
• Comes complete with adjustable harness system (fits up to 132cm or 52" chest)

Key Features:

• Acceleration Training device: Develop explosive power
• Sports Movement Specific Multi-Application: Linear, lateral, backpedalling and pulling & dragging drills
• Enables greater load/weight to be affixed: Increase speed strength
• Tough & Durable: Powder Coated

Box Includes:

• Sledge and Harness

Technical Specification:

• Heavy Duty steel construction: : 6.5kg
• Colour: : RED
• Adjustable Shoulder Harness: : Maximum 132cms (52") Chest Size
• Weight Disc Loaded: : Accomodates discs designed for 2.5cm (1") bars