Analysis of an apparatus employed to appraise the "readiness" of a defensive charge in football

Abstract

This study was made to determine if practice of a defensive charge on a sled would improve the "readiness" of high school football linemen to respond with consistently faster defensive charges, as measured by a timing device. Veteran and new linemen were divided into two separate groups, with backs forming a third group which acted as a control. Only line candidates practiced daily with the sled. Data was recorded by all three groups at the beginning, middle, and end of the football season with a timing device, which had a starting signal light connected to the base of the sled. The flash of the light activated the timing hand and signaled the subjects to start their trial. From a defensive stance, the subjects reacted to hit a padded surface on the face of the sled, depressing a plunger which stopped the timing hand. Analysis and comparisons of group data seems to indicate that linemen improve their "readiness" by practice on the sled.