40-Yard Dash test protocol

Maximum acceleration plus near-top-end velocity. Acceleration dominates the first 10 yards; the last 20 are closer to maximum sprint speed (MSS).

• 40 yards (36.576 m) of flat, straight running surface
• Two cones or markers at the start and finish lines
• Electronic timing system (light gates or laser) recommended for ±0.01 s precision
• Optional: split-time markers at 10 and 20 yards

1. Mark the start line and the 40-yard finish line. Place split-timer gates at 10 and 20 yards if you want sub-splits.
2. Athlete starts from a static three-point or two-point stance — no rocking, no false start, no pre-loading.
3. Use a movement-triggered start with electronic timing (preferred) or a 'go' command + handheld stopwatch.
4. Athlete sprints all-out through the 40-yard mark — do not decelerate before crossing the line.
5. Allow at least 3 minutes of recovery between trials. Take the best of 2–3 attempts.

Time in seconds to 0.01. Lower is better. Performance House also computes 10- and 20-yard splits when recorded, and a Tru40 estimate when only a partial split is available.

NFL Combine median ≈ 4.55 s. NCAA football wide receiver / DB: 4.4–4.6 s. NCAA women's soccer: 5.1–5.8 s. High-school field-sport athletes: 5.0–6.0 s.

• Hand timing reads 0.20–0.30 s faster than electronic timing because the timer reacts late on the start.
• Surface and shoe choice matter — turf in cleats is significantly faster than indoor court in trainers.