Should Athletes See Their Sprint Times After Each Run?

Show athletes their sprint time after each valid run when you want them to learn how an effort felt and how it measured. For formal retests, decide in advance when and how you share times, then use the same approach each time.

How can a coach share results during a session?

• Choose the number before the test. For a 20 m assessment, start with the total time. Add a split when it answers a specific question about the run.

• Keep the feedback brief. Say the result after the athlete has cleared the finish and recovered enough to listen. Confirm the correct athlete and attempt before giving the number.

• Use a consistent script. Give the same kind of information to each athlete and at each retest. Record changes in feedback alongside changes in the timing protocol.

What does the research show?

In a randomised crossover trial with highly trained female athletes, feedback on sprint times improved some immediate performance outcomes. A separate study of adolescent male team-sport athletes found no significant performance improvement from sharing times during its repeated-sprint protocol. These findings apply to the groups and tests studied. Crossover trial · Youth repeated-sprint study

Questions coaches ask

What could I say after a 20 m attempt?

For example, “3.42 seconds. Your baseline with this setup was 3.48.” Keep small differences in context and review more than one attempt before making a coaching decision.

Should I show every player the whole squad’s results?

Choose the sharing format before the session. Individual feedback is enough when the goal is to compare each athlete with their own baseline.

Use the team sprint report to record the feedback rule alongside the timing setup.

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