Resistance Training for the Maximization of the Horizontal Force Production

This chapter presents a double perspective from theory to practice contributing to the scientific-based evidence what is behind the real examples of best sprinters over the world in order to understand how best coaches train in a daily basis and elite competition context. During From theory section we will introduce from a general perspective (i) the description of a sprint from the velocity–time curve describing the different phases and (ii) the muscular implications needed to each phase characterizing the forces during the sprint. Taking all this together will help readers to understand and have a better knowledge about the adequateness of sprint training methods. During From practice section we will focus on the main sprint training methods, trying to understand how coaches could use them considering the velocity–time curve and the forces during a sprint. This section aims to cover the main parameters to take into account when designing a sprint training program independently of sport with the possibility to orient the target to acceleration or maximal velocity as described in the previous section. This second part intends to cover the very general training principles sprint coaches do have in common, and to shed light on how they differ.