Running a fast 40-yard dash is a great way to show off your speed and athleticism. It can be a deciding factor in whether or not you make it to the next level, so it’s important to make sure you are putting in the effort to get the best time possible. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to improve your 40-yard dash time. By following a few simple tips, you can drastically reduce your time and become the fastest 40-yard dash runner you can be. Here are five ways to improve your 40-yard dash time.

Warm Up Properly

When you are about to run the 40 yard dash, you want to make sure you are doing everything you can to increase your speed. A big part of that is warming up correctly so you don’t injure yourself. Depending on your age and experience level, you will have varying warm up times but the general rule of thumb is 5-10 minutes of light cardiovascular exercise. It is also important to stretch before you start your warm up. Make sure to focus on your legs, glutes, and hips as those are the primary muscles you’ll be using. Make sure you have proper form and hold each stretch for the recommended amount of time. These things can help reduce your risk of injury and get you ready to run faster.

Improve Your Start

One thing you can do to improve your start is focus on your posture. A wide stance is recommended as it helps you generate more power from your hips and glutes. You may want to also consider wearing less shoes so that you can have a better feel of the ground and push off with your toes. Keeping your knees bent and low to the ground during your start can help you build up speed more quickly. You also want to make sure you are dropping your hips and not pushing up onto your toes. By keeping your legs bent and pushing with your heels, you can help generate more power and speed out of the gate.

Increase Your Leg Strength

While improving your start is important, you also want to focus on building up your leg strength so that you can maintain your speed throughout the entire race. One way to do this is by incorporating resistance training into your routine. You want to make sure you are adding this to your routine before you run the 40-yard dash so you have time to see results. Exercises like squats, lunges, and leg press can help improve your speed. By increasing your leg strength and power, you will be able to maintain your speed for a longer period of time.

Increase Your Power

Along with leg strength, you also want to focus on increasing your power. Power is the amount of force you can generate while running. This can be achieved by shifting your center of gravity towards your heels and driving your hips forward. You can do so by contracting your glutes and pushing out with your heels. Make sure you are contracting your core muscles and keeping your back straight as you do so. Doing so will help you generate more power while running and help you run faster.

Practice the Drill

The last thing you want to do to improve your 40-yard dash time is practice and perfect your start, stride, and form. The best way to do so is by practicing the drill. The drill is a common exercise used by many professional athletes to improve their running form. It is great for beginners and elite athletes alike because it allows you to focus on each component of your run one at a time. While you will probably never run a 40-yard dash again, the drill is a great way to practice running with proper form and technique. It can help you see immediate results and see your time drop. These are five ways to improve your 40-yard dash time. When you follow these tips, you can be sure to show off your fastest running speed yet.