Want to improve acceleration? Push a heavy sled.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that sports are about speed. They aren’t. Team sports are all about acceleration, not top speed. And it doesn’t matter what sport you play, improving acceleration will enhance athletic performance.

Heavy sleds develop specific strength that targets the exact muscles used in sprinting/acceleration, something that nothing else can emulate. The sled teaches the athlete to produce force in a forward motion just like they would in sprinting/acceleration.

In addition and often overlooked, sleds can also be great in-season, as there is no eccentric portion of the movement and soreness shouldn’t be an issue.

Simple Off-Season Progression: Sled March, Sled Sprint, Contrast March to Sprint