Texans strength and conditioning coach Dan Riley has compiled a ...

neurological system.
How quickly and efficiently the neurological system makes connections to the right
sequence of muscle fibers is a major factor in determining first step quickness.
Ray and I consider ourselves pretty good strength coaches however; we can’t
change how a player’s nervous system connects to his muscular system. We tell our
players to thank Mom and Dad.
Reaction time is a chemical process. It can be measured by placing electrodes on the
brain and on the muscles involved in performing a task. As the athlete prepares to
move reaction time is measured from the first sign of electrical activity in the brain
until the first sign of any electrical activity in the muscles involved. The brain has
sent an electrical signal down the spinal cord to the muscle(s) involved and told the
muscle to get ready to contract. The muscle has not contracted yet and there is no
visible movement.
This is an inherited trait. Reaction time cannot be improved once a new task is
learned.
Response time is measured as the amount of time taken to respond to a stimulus
until the initiation of movement. The stimulus can vary. The stimulus could be the
sound of a starters gun at a track meet. It could be visual, the light turning green to
signal the start of a race between professional dragsters.
An example of response time is a defensive lineman visually responding to the snap
of the ball. Defensive linemen are taught to watch the ball and not listen to the
cadence of the quarterback.
The time elapsed from the initial movement of the ball being snapped until the first
sign of movement of the linemen is the response time. Some linemen get off the ball
quicker than others. Is it because they have better reaction time, better response
time, or a combination of both
A player’s quickness is affected by his reaction time and his response time. We can’t
change a player’s reaction time. We can however improve a player’s response time.
How Have the athlete practice the exact task(s) at hand.
The specific speed and quickness to perform a task is best improved by performing
that specific task … at game speed. Baseball scouts time baseball players in the 60-
yard dash. Sixty yards is the distance from first base to third base.
Instead of facing forward or starting from a three-point stance, baseball players are
required to start in the same position they would assume if they were on first base
and getting ready to turn and run toward second.
Baseball scouts start the sprint by holding a baseball cap in their hand. They signal
the start of the sprint when they drop the cap.
It doesn’t make sense for a baseball player to waste time and energy practicing his
start from a three-point stance. Using the sound of a whistle to practice his starts
won’t reduce a baseball player’s response time to the visual cue of seeing a hat drop.