Speed and Agility Training and Strength
From speed and agility training:
Speed and Agility Training and Strength
This article will examine what part strength plays in your speed and agility training program. Let’s define some terms.
- Absolute strength – is the maximum power you are capable of generating, your one rep maximum is your absolute strength
- Starting Strength – a function of how many muscle fibers you can instantaneously contract
Think of it like this, if you snatch a heavy dumbbell off the ground you will strain your back. But if you were to pick it up slowly this would not occur. Starting strength (in this example), simply measures the maximum weight you are capable of snatching off the ground without injury.
- Relative strength – your strength per pound of body weight
- Reactive Strength or Plyometric Strength – measures your ability to absorb and utilize force when switching from an eccentric contraction to a concentric contraction.

