Examples: Running a 50 meter dash, performing a long jump, sprinting in cover defense in football, running between bases
in baseball.
Important Features The anaerobic power that is available. This is affected by: (a) the energy transfer ability of ATPase and CPase to the bonding of actin and myosin in muscle contraction; (b) the total number of muscle fibers used; (c) the proportion of fast-twitch fibers used in each single action in the total event; and (d) towards the upper limit of this type of activity there may be some demand placed on the lactacid energy system so that some lactic acid is formed although it will not reach very high levels.
The mechanical resistive forces in the body are: (a) muscle viscosity, (b) the degree of relaxation in the antagonist muscles, and (c) the inertia in the various body parts that are moved. The mechanical resistive forces outside of the body are (a) energy loss due to friction with the ground and/or
performance medium (water and/or air), (b) air resistance, and (c) the raising and lowering of the center of gravity (the less the better).
The performance capacities which surround biomechanics and skill learning are timing, skill, and agility. These combine to form a coordinated smooth movement that produces an efficient explosive force. Each individual action needs to be cyclically performed so that the most efficient and productive movement is repeated. This requires much training of a specific nature so that evenness of force application at a maximum intensity is learned. Since performance determinants are primarily based in skill learning, auxiliary training using simple activities (e.g., weight training, rebounding) and unrelated activities are not likely to influence any performance
improvements. The major learning task is to develop and control forced movements that exceed the normal ballistic velocity of the limbs that are used. Since that is unnatural, the amount of exact and specific training that occurs will determine the ability to execute efficiently. From a physiological viewpoint, there should be sufficient training performed to overload the alactacid energy system so that it improves (the amount of improvement may be as much as 20 percent but that will translate into extending maximum performance by only a few seconds).
The best forms of training for these activities are specific repetition and ultra-short training. An emphasis on all types of general physiological training will have no benefit and could even be detrimental because of the development of excessive general fatigue and inappropriate movement patterns.
Training at specific maximum intensities with sufficient recovery between trials is the major conditioning principle for these events. The most significant performance improvements are likely to result from skill enhancement. This means that performance improvements should be expected throughout an athlete''s career. A relatively well-trained endurance capability could assist the development of stress tolerance, application to training, and recovery rates.