ABSTRACT
Linear speed is an essential quality for many athletes and is a recommended characteristic to assess. In many sports, the ability to reach a high sprinting speed is important, as a faster athlete can cover a greater distance in a shorter time period. A velocity or speed curve produced from a 100-metre sprint, which tracks the speed at which an individual is running relative to the distance covered, highlights the different components of a sprint. The most common starts used for sprint testing are either a standing start with a two-point standing, split-stance or a three-point stance where both feet and one hand are in contact with the ground. Numerous studies have documented that acceleration and maximum speed are different sprint qualities. Measurement essentially means that only the maximum speed phase of a sprint can be measured with relative accuracy, as step length and frequency are relatively stable.
