A BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF TWO SOFTBALL BASE STEALING TECHNIQUES

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare two softball base stealing starting techniques; the rocker start and the sprint start. Reaction time and linear velocity were measured. The researchers hypothesized that the sprint start would be faster than the rocker start. Fourteen NCAA Division 1, collegiate softball players, age 18–23 years, served as subjects. The subjects were positioned on first base, 60 ft from the camera. The camera recorded a linear distance of 15 ft. A light was used for a starting signal and was positioned at the pitchers mound in the subject's line of sight. A LED was wired from the light to the video camera. A pitcher was used to simulate a game-like situation. When the pitcher began the pitching motion, the light was triggered. Subjects were instructed to run to second base when they saw the light illuminate. Subjects performed five trials of each base stealing technique. Five average velocities were calculated at 3 ft intervals during the first 15 ft of the run. The results revealed no significant difference between the reaction time for the rocker start and the sprint start, t (13) = .009, p = .99. A significant technique by distance interaction was found for velocity, F (4, 52) = 7.36, p < .05. The Rocker Start was faster than the Sprint Start across the five velocities. Also, the velocity curves were different for the two starts causing the interaction effect. No differences were found between the reaction times of the two starts. Therefore, it was concluded that the Rocker Start, due to it's greater linear velocity during the first 15 ft of displacement, is a more effective base stealing technique.