Here are some of my thoughts on "game speed." What it is and what it is not. I would be interested in your comments and ideas.
8 Comments
“Game Speed”
Joe
Can’t see video “saying it’s private”
John
Can’t watch the video, it says its private? 🙁
cabbagegod@hotmail.com
Me too
Karl
I agree 100%. I think top speed is an important factor, but maybe only one of the many prerequisites for game speed. Just because you have a high top speed doesn’t mean you will have a high game speed. Game Speed involves top speed, game experience, reaction time, anticipation, spacial awareness, neural reactivity, general athleticism and strength, balance and many more.
There is a great interview with sprinter Wallace Spearman recently on flotrack where he talks about racing football players and he says, “track speed is NOT football speed.” He says there is a difference between being quick and being fast. It is a great interview and worth watching.
http://www.flotrack.org/speaker/350-Wallace-Spearmon/video/476819-Wallace-Spearmon-calls-out-Chris-johnson
You can be too fast for football. If you are so fast that you cannot cut, turn or react quick enough, then you are too fast. I love it when he says, “4.2 is not that fast for a track athlete.”
Brian
Thank you the video and your quality website.
My sport is rockclimbing. The concept of game speed is very critical. The “game”, aka the rock, doesn’t change speed but only the climber. Frequently, people move slower on more difficult terrain. I try to avoid that in my own climbing by focusing on optimal speed for a particular climb. Some times it is moving faster than I would want to. Other times it is moving slower than I would want to. I work daily on being more comfortable with being uncomfortable.
wayne
Every time i hear words come out of your month or read them on the screen…You make me a better trainer. Thanks so much! I have noticed this game speed in hockey. I have played with high school kids, recreation, and jr level and div 3 college and have played with retired semi pro guys.. game speed is all over the place when compared to these levels. I watched a played put the puck on the back of his own team mate just to make a play. there is some thing in hockey called back checking, and game speed might be called for thinking and moving. great stuff! Never quit wayne
Eric
I enjoy the blog a lot. I like the points you made that game speed reflects more than just speed alone and that drills should put the athlete in a position to think quicker in order to react to game situations.
Andrew
Game speed is not track speed but I it can be applied to track as well. Take an 800m or 1500m race where there is a lot of pushing and shoving and you need to hold your own; where you need to avoid being boxed in and if you are you have to use all your skills to get out; where you need to gauge whether the pace is too fast or too slow and act accordingly; when you have to decide when to make that vital break and at what pace and for how long.