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Task Specificity on Rate of Force Development and Joint-Angles for Better Transfer

By Daniel Cobian, MS, CSCS, RSCC*D, CES, Professional Baseball Strength and Conditioning, 05/08/19, 12:00PM PDT

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In conclusion, the specificity of training may be influenced by the degree to which maximal or explosive training is utilized in practice that effects RFD.

Sports conditioning program design involves the aim of enhancing performance with considerations to the movements that govern the specific sport.  Baseball performance relies on quick and powerful movements at higher velocities needed for sprinting, pitching, and swinging a bat, rather than movements that depend on maximal strength efforts that may have more of an influence in American football for example. 

Acknowledging that the time needed to generate maximal contractions takes at least 300-ms, while many sports activities only require 0 to 200-ms, may help develop a rationale during program design2, 4).  Therefore, when programming for a power-based sport such as baseball, the rate of force development (RFD) needs consideration as a means to address task specificity through neuromuscular mechanisms that may serve as an opportunity for a greater degree of transfer.