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The 40-yard dash is the epitome for measuring players’ speed for football. Every football athlete is looking for a way to shave, if even, a millisecond off their recorded time. As teams and players gearing up for 7-on-7 competition during spring season, no event at any football camp is more-heavily weighed than the 40-yard dash. Skill positions such as running backs, wide receivers, and defensive backs are keying in to lower their 40-yard dash time.

Each athlete participates in local combines or camps, regardless of position, is expected to run a 40-yard dash. One could realistically point out that no other event at the combine/camp is given more importance to an individual player’s college scholarship potential than the 40-yard dash time. Speed is valuable primarily in todays football game. Many coaches and scouts make a big deal of the 40-yard dash time at all levels of football, although now a fast 40-yard dash time is considered important for almost all positions. If you are seriously trying to get your time down in the 40-yard dash, it has 5 stages that you can improve on.

Stance: It is a must to be in the correct stance. From a good strong athletic position, you can allow yourself to take off in an aggressive accelerated manner.

The First Steps: The first steps are critical. It will set you up to quickly cover the first 10 yards and efficiently reach top speed. At this point, focus on exploding off the starting line, keeping your head down as you drive away.

First 10 Yards: Over the first 10 yards, have your head down by keeping the chin down, the chest up, and pumping your arms while pushing away from the starting line.

In Transition: Run through the first-10 yards striding at top speed on the balls of your feet as you then begin transitioning into holding top speed over the remaining 30 yards.

Your Finish: Concentrating on running through the finish line at top speed in perfect form, not head first like a proverbial “track star.”