Sprinting

Reaction Time

In this lesson you can start by talking with the class about the difference between sprints, middle distance and long distance running and how some people may be good at one type of running and not so good at the others due to the type of muscles we have in our body.

(slow twitch/fast twitch muscles)

Talk to the class about how sprinting is about going as fast as you can over the distance (primary distance for sprinting tends to be 60m)

When running further than sprints distance it is not possible to run as fast as you can and you must pace your running to be able to finish the race.

Put the class into teams of about 4 people (depending on space available)

Explain that an important aspect of sprint racing is the start and that is what we are going to look at today.

Talk about reaction time and how important it is in sprints.

Make sure you have marked out where the children are running to and that they all understand that they have only to run to the mark and not back towards their team.

Start each of the races with Set, Go

On set the children should get into the position that you have specified.

Try to start all the races in different positions i.e. lying face down, sitting cross legged, facing the wrong direction.

In this practice focus is on reaction time and not running style.

Sprint start

Begin by talking over the important of reaction time at the start of a sprint race and how important the start is. Talk about the different between sprints, middle distance and long distance running.

Ask the children to name different running races in athletics.

Children are always eager to learn the crouch start, so here is the basics that you can teach.

To begin with children need to know which foot to put at the back and which to put at the front. Get the children to stand with both feet together and learn forward until they need to put a foot out to stop themselves hitting the floor! The foot that is put forward is the foot that they should start with at the back as this is the foot which they will step onto first.

When the starter says on you marks

(if starting with the right foot at the back)

Place the left foot at the line then place the right heel at the back and finally put the left foot behind the right. This is now the left foot in place.

The right foot should be placed so that when kneeling the right knee is in line with the left foot. The toes of the right foot should be turned under.

Fingers must be placed behind the line and hands should be slightly more than shoulder width. Finger should form a bridge with thumbs pointing inwards towards each other.

When viewed from the side shoulder should be over the start line. He should be down and relaxed.

On Set

Hips raise up slightly higher than shoulders.

Shoulders should be above the start line or slightly forwards.

On go

The idea is that the movement should be forwards rather than up and then forwards but this is very difficult to teach in 1 lesson. Try to explain that they should feel like they are going to fall over for the first couple of steps as they come out of the crouch position.

Standing start is probably going to be as effective as a crouch start for most children.

When the starters say on you marks

Place front foot on the line and have most of body weight on the front foot.

Feet should be shoulder width apart to ensure good balance.

On set

Bend knees and lean forwards

Arms positioned in opposition to legs.

In both starts children must try to remain motionless during the set phase as any movements can result in a false start.

In athletic when one athlete gets a false start everyone in the race is now in danger of being disqualified if they are the next to false start.

Teaching Running technique

Click here for running teaching points.