THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THREE STARTING TECHNIQUES IN RUNNING LATERALLY

Abstract

The ability to start quickly and run laterally appears to be important in a number of sports including American football, baseball, volleyball, and tennis. Coaches and teachers vary in their recommendations of the most effective technique for moving laterally. Two techniques are widely accepted: the jab-step and the cross-over step. A third technique that is not as widely recognized is the gravity-step. Four studies compared the efficacy of jabstep and the cross-over step in baseball and slow pitch softball (Israel & Brown, 1981). Chandler, et al. (1975) examined the jab-step and cross-over step in American football. Along with other techniques, Cox, et al. (1982) studied the effectiveness of the jab-step and cross-over step in volleyball while Bragg & Andriacchi (2001) looked at applications of these techniques, and the gravity-step, in tennis. Various measurement methods were used in these studies and they produce equivocal results. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of three starting techniques - jab, cross-over and gravity steps - in lateral running to distances up to 27 m (90 ft).