"Coach Pete with Omega Speed Training has helped me grow as an athlete.  The speed training programs, and speed training camps were awesome!  In the strength and conditioning programs that were given by Omega Speed Training - I have seen a ton of improvement in a short period of time.  Omega Speed Training workouts are the best and I look forward to coming to the gym to workout because I know the workout I am now doing is getting big results.  I can't thank Coach Pete with Omega Speed Training enough, he knows his stuff when it comes to speed training and knows how to work with a variety of people.  He is the man - thanks Coach Pete!" ~ Nick C, SAC State football
 

The greater the acceleration, the greater the lean - not the other way around!  But how many instruct their athletes to lean forward or stay low during the acceleration phase?  Many coaches have been taught to look for a good forward lean in their athletes. If they don't see a good lean during the acceleration phase, they often instruct the athlete to lean forward or stay low.

Before I go any further let me explain what a good forward lean is.  If a line was drawn from the foot of the drive leg through the center of mass, that line would extend through the shoulder joint and head.  This line would be an approximately 45 degree angle from the ground - this is the type of lean you will find in an athlete that is accelerating properly.

Coaches will study the athletes as they accelerate and notice that they are not achieving a good forward lean.  They will then instruct the athlete to lean forward or stay low.  The athlete in an attempt to create this good lean will try to force the lean by pushing their body forward or trying to stay low - this  causes them to bend at the waist.  This break at the waist causes an energy leak which limits the amount of force that can be applied to the ground and slows the athletes acceleration.  After several attempts - what often happens is that the athlete and coach become confused and frustrated as to why the athlete is not achieving a good lean and even worse, they can't understand why the athletes speed is now slower!

They didn't realize that the amount of lean that the athlete exhibits is directly proportional to the amount of acceleration they demonstrate.  In other words, the greater the acceleration, the greater the lean - not the other way around.

It is important to understand that acceleration is not speed, it is the rate at which an athlete increases speed.  Acceleration has everything to do with strength and power because the athlete is trying to overcome inertia.  Each time the athlete drives their leg down and back into the ground, the applied force propels their speed until they reach top speed.  The more strength and power applied - the greater the acceleration.  The greater the acceleration, the greater the rate at which the athlete increases speed.  

The ticket towards a good forward lean is not trying to lean forward or trying to stay low - the ticket is found in the athletes strength. The forward lean is a natural result of the athletes applied force into the ground through strength and power.

It is important that the athlete does not try to lean or try to stay low, instead the athlete must focus on driving their leg down and back with utmost force into the ground. A good forward lean will occur naturally as they apply the ample strength and power necessary to quicken the rate at which they gain speed. Applying force to the ground is what will produce a good forward lean and if the athlete still can't achieve a good forward lean - then they need to build more strength and power with resistance training and plyometrics!

A big smile to you.
Coach Pete

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If you have any questions and/or need any additional information, please don't hesitate to contact Coach Pete at coachpete@omegafitnessquest.com