Run
      Back to home
      1. Knowledge Base
      2. Plantigapedia
      3. Run

      Maximum Speed

      Maximum speed is the top speed achieved over an activity. Maximum speed would typically be used for sprints and as a measure of power.

       

      Table 19: Normative values of mean max running speeds for male soccer players of different ages

      Age (years)

      10m Sprint (m/s)

      20m Flying Sprint (m/s)

      Repeated Sprint* (m/s)

      Under 14

      5.18

      7.02

      5.95

      Under 16

      5.56

      7.91

      6.49

      Under 18

      5.78

      8.55

      6.83

      * Repeated sprint is the mean speed over 10 trials of a 30m sprint with 30s rest between trials

      Alberto Mendez-Villanueva , Martin Buchheit , Sami Kuitunen , Andrew Douglas , Esa Peltola & Pitre Bourdon (2011) Age-related differences in acceleration, maximum running speed, and repeated-sprint performance in young soccer players, Journal of Sports Sciences, 29:5, 477-484, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2010.536248

       

      Table 20: Normative values of mean max speed for elite male sprinters of different ages

      Age (years)

      Max Speed (m/s)

      17-33

      9.65

      40-49

      8.80

      50-59

      8.34

      60-69

      7.73

      70-82

      7.09

      Korhonen, Marko T, Mero, Antti A, Alén, Markku, Sipilä, Sarianna, Häkkinen, Keijo, Liikavainio, Tuomas, Viitasalo, Jukka T, Haverinen, Marko T, & Suominen, Harri. (2009). Biomechanical and skeletal muscle determinants of maximum running speed with aging. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 41(4), 844–856. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181998366

       

      Power and sprint speed - 3 repetition max (RM) power clean and measures of jump squat power, relative to body weight, are correlated significantly with 10m sprint speed. 3RM full squat and loaded jump squat performance, relative to body weight, are significantly correlated with 40m sprint speed.

      Baker D, Nance S: The Relation Between Strength and Power in Professional Rugby League Players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 1999; 13(3):224-229.

       

      Sprint speed and hamstring activation - When treadmill running speed increased from 85% to 95% of max speed, hamstring muscle activation significantly increased during late swing phase. At 75%, 85%, and 95% of max speed, activation of semitendinosis was significantly greater than activation of biceps femoris during the middle swing phase. Thus hamstring injury may be more likely at these high speeds.

      Higashihara, Ayako, Ono, Takashi, Kubota, Jun, Okuwaki, Toru, & Fukubayashi, Toru. (2010). Functional differences in the activity of the hamstring muscles with increasing running speed. Journal of Sports Sciences, 28(10), 1085–1092. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2010.494308

       

      Applications