Abstract
This study compares the forward step to the plyo step sprint start technique. The purpose of this study was to incorporate a 6-week training program prior to testing the two techniques so the athletes have time to get comfortable with stances and train in them. Forty-six volunteer subjects from the American River College football program were recruited for this study. For the pretest, all participants lined up on the starting line and sprinted for 10m using the plyo-step technique. They were then randomly split into two groups (plyo and forward step groups) and preceded with a 6-week sprint-training program provided by the coach. The posttest was the same as the pretest for the plyo group and the forward step group, however the F-group tested in the forward step technique. The results from this study revealed that both starting techniques had statistically significant faster times after the 6-week sprint-training program. When compared to each other, the forward step had significantly faster times than the plyo step technique. Further research is needed to examine the effects of different starting stances on other sports. The next step in research might be to change the environment in which the athletes train and test in, for example, an indoor court.