Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange
Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to compare the starting and performance times of sprinters using the vertical starting blocks with their starting and performance times using the conventional blocks. Thirteen volunteer members of the combined freshman and varsity track teams at South Dakota State University served as both the experimental and control groups. The subjects participated in a six week training program with both the vertical and the conventional blocks being utilized, during which time they met for twelve training sessions. The subjects were tested two and one-half weeks after the training program had begun and immediately following the completion of the training program. Starting time and performance time were statistically analyzed. The data collected during the testing were recorded and analyzed to determine what effect the vertical starting blocks had on starting time and performance time. The results of the findings in the initial test indicated that the vertical starting blocks employed in this study produced a statistically significant in1provement in performance time, but no significant improvement was found in starting time. The results of the findings in the final test indicated that the vertical starting blocks employed in this study produced a statistically significant improvement in both starting time and performance time
