How Do You Set Up a Flying 20 m Sprint Test for Football?

Place two timing points 20 m apart and give the player a marked run-up before the first one. One published youth football protocol used a 30 m run-up. The clock measures the 20 m between the gates, so the result describes speed over that segment after the build-up.

Where do the start mark and gates go?

• Mark the run-up. In the 30 m example, the player starts 30 m before the first timing point. A fixed mark makes retests easier to compare. Youth football flying 20 m protocol

• Measure the timed segment. Put the finish 20 m beyond the first timing point. This layout needs 50 m from the run-up start to the finish, plus space for slowing down.

• Keep the setup consistent. Use the same pitch, start instruction, gate positions and scoring rule. Run a practice pass before recording maximal efforts.

How do you calculate the speed?

Divide 20 m by the recorded time. A player who covers the timed segment in 2.50 s averages 8.00 m/s, or 28.8 km/h. Label that figure as average speed over the flying 20 m. Estimating the highest speed reached within the segment requires a suitable continuous measurement method.

When should a football coach use this test?

Use a flying 20 m when you want to track how quickly a player covers a section after a build-up. Use a standing-start 10 m test when the question is early acceleration. Keep separate baselines for the two tests and record the run-up length with every flying sprint.

Questions football coaches ask

Can you use a shorter run-up?

Yes, if it suits your coaching question and space. Treat a different run-up length as a new protocol because it can change the speed at which the player enters the measured segment.

What should you record when testing outdoors?

Record the surface, footwear and the direction of the sprint relative to the wind. Note changes in conditions so the next coach can judge whether the sessions are comparable.

See the 10 m acceleration test and the timing gates and GPS comparison for the measurements each method can provide.

Sources

• Flying 20 m protocol in elite youth football players

• Comparison of field systems for measuring sprint speed

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