Speed as a movement ability has one dimension – time. An athlete’s speed can be demonstrated as reaction time, time of a single movement or as time performing a number of movements. There is no connection between these 3 demonstrations of speed. An athlete can have a poor reaction time but rapid speed of movement and vice versa.
The highest speed that a person can demonstrate depends on their reaction time, maximal strength, speed-strength, speed-endurance, flexibility, coordination, technique and endurance (mostly in endurance sports).
Efficient coordination allows optimal relaxing of the muscles involved in a given movement phase. Incorrect muscle tension slows down movements, so practicing the ability to relax is crucial in speed training.
Speed is movement specific. The same athlete may be fast in some movements but slow in others. There is no connection between speed of leg movements and arm movements and barely any connection in movements that require different coordination.
In advanced athletes, a transfer of speed training happens only in movements that have a similar structure. Beginners encounter a transfer of speed in all exercises.
Different sports require different types of speed. Sports can be split into 5 groups, depending on the most typical form of speed that is needed in a given sport.
1. Sports requiring maximal demonstrations of all 3 components of speed in nonstandard situations (combat sports, team games).
2. Sports requiring maximal demonstrations of all 3 components of speed in standard situations (sprinting).
3. Sports requiring maximal demonstrations of the speed of movement against external resistance (weightlifting, powerlifting, throwing and jumping events).
4. Sports requiring maximal demonstrations of speed and frequency of movements with difficult coordination (gymnastics, diving, skating).
5. Sports requiring preservation of a high frequency of movement over a long period of time, in which speed is based mostly on endurance (long distance running, cross country skiing).
