Several years ago, I was helping out at a local tryout field for a Major League Baseball team. We had around 50 attendees at an open tryout in the area for players ages 16-23. I got there early and helped measure and paint a line for the 60-yard dash. If you’ve ever been to any type of MLB tryout or even a top-tier baseball exhibition, you’ll always start your day with a 60-yard dash. That morning was no different. We divided the players into several groups and asked them to start stretching, then we started having them run in pairs. At the end of the test, we had a 23-year-old young college football player who ran a 60-yard dash in 6.3 seconds.

If you know anything about the ’60s, that’s an extremely good time and the best I’ve ever witnessed. The scout in charge of the test (who had scouted for more than 30 years and had signed several major leaguers) said it was the best time he had ever recorded. In fact, he asked the young man to execute him a second time, just to make sure. The time was the same. The next thing the scout told me was, “If you can hit, field or throw, we’ll sign you to a contract today.” Unfortunately, he had never played baseball before and had no other baseball skills.

All MLB teams still use the 60-yard dash today, but it only has one starting point to measure speed and quickness. It has been a standard for some time and is a good indicator of the speed needed in the field. The distance from 1B to 3B is 180 feet (60 yards). Also, outfielders have to cover a large area in the outfield when they catch fly balls. The average major leaguer will run the 60-yard dash in under 7.0 seconds, but this is more important for middle infielders and outfielders. First/third base hitters, catchers and pitchers don’t need to run a good 60 time.

In general, a baseball player must still have specific skills and instincts. Without the ability to run the bases, throw and catch, and hit a fastball, running speed isn’t very useful.

There are many who will tell you that Major League Baseball is behind in evaluating athletes and that the measurement of the 60-yard dash is out of date. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the SPARQ testing system was designed to assess general athleticism in various sports, including baseball. SPARQ stands for speed, power, agility and quickness. The general idea was developed by Rudy Chapa, a former All American track and cross country runner at the University of Oregon. The Baseball Tests for SPARQ were developed by ERic Trice of Trice Athletics in 2006 while working for SPARQ. Trice was a former professional track and field athlete. SPARQ has been used by Nike as a (very popular) general marketing tool since 2004 to sell cross-training footwear, apparel, and equipment.

The SPARQ Test for Baseball consists of the following tests:

– 20 Yard Shuttle Run: lateral movement test that measures agility

– 30 Yard Dash: Measures acceleration

– Power Ball Rotational Throw (3kg): Measures core strength, total body power, and common center rotational motion in baseball.

– Vertical jump: general athletics

The general testing involved in SPARQ is good, but MLB still embraces the 60-yard dash. The SPARQ rating system has been more widely accepted by football than baseball thus far, although several colleges and major baseball showcases are using SPARQ tests.

Another component of the SPARQ system is SPARQ training. This second component is the training system to help young athletes improve. Individuals can get certifications, videos, and training tools to set up shop and start the business of training young athletes. The problem is that some people who get the credentials and equipment are not always fully certified athletic trainers. SPARQ is in the current process of re-assessing its qualification and training certification, although many SPARQ events are still taking place across the country.

For now, MLB will continue to use the 60-yard dash. One thing is for sure, with the right kind of training in both strength and technique, a player can become more athletic and explosive. With enough hard work and dedication on the part of the athlete, their race times can be improved and the overall confidence of the athlete will increase.

For more information on how to improve your players’ time on the 60-yard dash and why football uses the 40-yard dash for testing, CLICK HERE!

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