What is the Drive Phase?
The Drive phase is when block clearance occurs, up to the time you transition upright to your sprinting phase.
So this can be varying distances based on the athlete’s strength.
Typically the drive phase last about 20 meters. In an inexperienced or weak sprinter it can be as little as 5-10 meters.
At the top level the drive phase can last as long as 40-50 meters.
In the drive phase the athlete tries to achieve the concept of pushing the ground away from them, this requires a longer ground contact time than when you are at top speed.
I use this analogy: The drive phase is like a car in first gear (stick shift). You must generate your momentum from rest (starting blocks, standing etc.).
So you must use power, that power comes from driving and pushing the ground back from beneath your hips!
To achieve this you must take powerful strides and as you gain speed the stride gets longer and powerful (do not reach!)
Your power position out from the blocks is approxitimaly 45 degrees from the track, with each stride you are working to place your foot under your hip on each stride. This is the optimum for generating force production.
For more Information on the subject contact Coach Blake at coachablake@netscape.net
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