Linear Speed (Timing Gate)

The ability to change direction rapidly is crucial in any field sports and should not be confused with agility (reacting to specific stimulus). Depending on playing position, specific routes would be advised to assess the COD ability for 45, 90 and 180 turns. Gate Sprint speed is no doubt a crucial attribute for successful rugby performance. Although rugby field is 100m long, most plays are determined in short sprint (5-10m) accelerations and top speed are usually not achieved nor maintained over 30m. Thus, the improvement margin is often lower than the error range of traditional handheld timer. The use of timing gate provides valid and reliable monitoring of speed improvements.