WHAT IS SPEED IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION? - ARTE - 2025

The speed in physical education is the maximum frequency at which it is possible that an individual can cover a distance or make a move in a specific time period. Speed ​​is a combination of reaction time and movement time.

Reaction time is the time it takes for an individual to respond to a stimulus. For example, a goalkeeper responding to a goal in soccer or the sound of the gun that indicates the beginning of a career in athletics.

On the other hand, movement time is the time it takes for an individual to perform a movement. For example, running to catch an opponent or arm speed on a golf shot.

Speed ​​can be improved through training that focuses on strength and technique, although some factors can limit speed. These factors may include inherited characteristics, body type and size, and the duration of the event in which you are participating.

Speed ​​in physical exercise

Speed ​​is not just how fast someone can run or swim, it also depends on their acceleration (how fast they can accelerate from a stationary position), the maximum speed of the movement, and maintaining speed (minimizing deceleration).

Speed ​​of movement requires good strength and power, but a lot of body weight and air resistance can act to slow an individual.

In addition to the high ratio of fast ratio muscle fibers, mechanical efficiency of movement is vital to optimize muscle power for the most economical movement technique.

Elements that influence the speed of the individual

Although speed can be improved through conditioning and technique, some elements can have a great influence on the results. These factors are:

-Inherited characteristics, such as a person's fast muscle fibers. These muscle fibers are used for fast and powerful movements. However this means that they tire faster. Athletes who are good at short events that require high speed and power will have a greater number of fast muscle fibers.

-Body type and size; bone structure, weight, and muscle size will affect how fast an individual can move.

-Duration of the event, it is not possible to run at maximum speed for too long distances.

How to increase speed

Improving speed requires a training program that focuses on leg strength and power.

Appropriate technical training should be done that best utilizes the individual's strength and power development.

Conditioning

Sprint training doesn't just involve running fast. It is important to have a good physical conditioning base in order to build speed on it.

Flexibility is also important, since in this way a good running posture can be achieved, exercises can be enhanced over the entire range of motion and the risk of injury can be reduced.

Specific sprint training might include working on speed endurance (with lactic acid / without lactic acid), maximum speed, elastic strength / acceleration, and reactive speed.

Sprint training sessions often include: sprint drills, acceleration, sprints, plyometrics, resistance training, and speed training.

Reaction time

Reaction time is the short time it takes for an athlete to determine how they will begin to move after a stimulus.

An athlete's ability to react shows how fast and how effective he is in making decisions and taking action.

To improve it, you must first understand and study the patterns of the player you are competing with. In this way you can limit the number of options and responses appropriate to your movements.

Additionally, clues must also be identified that may indicate what the opposing player will do on his next move.

Responding should also be practiced under different competitive conditions. The quantity and quality of practice can reduce the amount of time it takes for an athlete to make the appropriate decision.

Then you must anticipate the opponent's actions. An athlete's ability to predict what his opponent will do in different situations improves reaction time.

Athletes who want to fool their opponents can use that anticipation to their advantage by making those moves unpredictable.

If an opponent is unable to anticipate a move, the response process will be slower. Reaction time and decision making are influenced by an athlete's stress and excitement.

Excited athletes can detect a limited number of signals because their concentration is focused. This level can be achieved through breathing exercises, meditation, visualization, and relaxation.

Importance of speed

Speed ​​is one of the main components of physical fitness; important for success is many sports.

For some athletes, such as athletic sprinters, sprinter swimmers, cyclists, and speed skaters, speed is the most important aspect of their physical conditioning.

In many other sports, including team field sports, good speed is also very important as part of your overall fitness profile.

Some of the sports in which an emphasis is placed on speed include: all types of athletics (sprints, medium and long distances), swimming, skating, hockey, cycling, basketball, soccer, American football, tennis, boxing and martial arts, among others.

References

1. Speed ​​sports. Recovered from topendsports.com
2. Components of fitness. Recovered from teachpe.com
3. Speed ​​training: how to get faster. Recovered from topendsports.com
4. Top fitness components in sports. Recovered from sports-training-adviser.com
5. Speed ​​fitness component. Recovered from topendsports.com
6. Reaction time and decision making in sports. Recovered from sports-training-adviser.com
7. Muscles. Recovered from teachpe.com.