A study of response time using three selected athletic training programs.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine various training programs and to determine which of the training programs examined would best increase a sprinter's response time out of starting blocks. This study was designed to determine which one, if any, of three training programs selected would provide the best results in increasing a sprinter's response time out of starting blocks. The training programs examined were: 1) repetitious start, 2) weight training, 3) exer-genie program. A fourth group constituted the control group. To conduct this study twenty high school freshmen and sophomore male and female physical education students were selected from a group of volunteers. These subjects were placed into four groups of five each.. Each group contained one female athlete, one female non-athlete, two male athletes, and one male non-athlete. Three groups were assigned training programs to be conducted over a six week period. The fourth group was the control group and was not involved in a training program. The subjects were pre-tested and post-tested from starting blocks using the medium start form to a distance of ten yards with a Dekan electric timer. To determine the significance two statistical procedures were used: 1) t-test, and 2) analysis of covariance. Within the limitations of this study it was concluded that: 1) there was no significant dii~erence between the training programs studied and none oi the training programs selected increased a sprinte''s response time out of the.starting blocks, and 2) a sprinter's response time from the starting blocks cannot be increased through the use of any of the training techniques employed in this study.