What it measures
Maximum sprint speed (MSS). Because the athlete is already at or near top speed entering the timing zone, the 10 m segment becomes a clean measure of velocity rather than acceleration.
Equipment
- 30 m total runway: 10–20 m acceleration zone + 10 m timing zone
- Two timing gates set 10 m apart at the start and end of the timing zone
Protocol
- Mark the acceleration zone (10–20 m before the first gate) and the 10 m timing zone.
- Athlete builds up speed through the acceleration zone — coach signals 'maximal' before they enter the first gate.
- Sprint maximally through the 10 m timing zone — do not decelerate until well past the second gate.
- Take 3+ minutes recovery between trials. Best of 3 attempts.
Scoring
Time in seconds to 0.01. Performance House converts flying-10 results to an equivalent 40-yard time via the Tru40 model so scores compare across testing setups.
Typical ranges
Elite male sprinters: 0.85–0.95 s (≈ 10.5–11.7 m/s). NCAA male field sport: 1.00–1.10 s. NCAA women's soccer: 1.10–1.25 s.
Practical notes
- Surface, weather, and athlete fatigue affect MSS dramatically — keep conditions consistent across testing sessions.
References
- Samozino P, Rabita G, Dorel S et al. (2016). A simple method for measuring power, force, velocity properties, and mechanical effectiveness in sprint running. Scand J Med Sci Sports.
Use this test in Performance House
Performance House supports Flying 10m as a built-in test metric — log results from any device, see longitudinal trends, and contribute the result to the athlete's Performance Index automatically. Free for up to 5 athletes on the Starter plan.
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