maximum linear speed

[softballperformance]

They are centralizing at UNLV for the next couple of weeks
to train and compete against various D1 schools before
traveling to Australia in March to further their preparation.

In the article, I discuss the idea that maximum running speed is
overrated in softball.

It's true that speed skills.

And speed never goes into a slump.

But you see - "maximum linear speed" is not very useful in our
sport as we never run straight for long enough to benefit from
it.

If you spend too much time working on linear speed, you are
wasting your time.

Instead, you need to work on "other" speed qualities:

- Starting ability
- Acceleration
- Quick change of direction
- "Multidirectional" speed

Softball is multidirectional. We accelerate, decelerate, change
directions quickly, etc.

So, spending too much focusing on maximum running speed will not
make you a lot faster on the field because we don't use maximum
speed.

The only exception is that you do want to learn proper
sprinting technique but don't waste a lot of time in trying
to get faster going straight.

Learn how to explode, accelerate, and change directions quickly.

This will make faster on the field.