Phase 02 of 5 · Roughly the first 10–20 m

The drive phase in sprinting

The drive phase is the portion of a sprint immediately after block clearance in which the athlete is still accelerating hard from a forward-leaning position, with the foot landing behind the centre of mass and contact times still long.

The goal of this phase: Apply force behind you for as long as possible, and rise only as fast as the velocity earns.

What good looks like

A progressive rise toward upright, not a step change.
A positive shin angle at every touchdown, the shin leaning in the direction of travel.
Contact times falling and step length growing step over step.
Arms driving through a long range, matching the length of the leg action.

Common faults in the drive phase2 faults

Rising too early

What you see: Athlete is upright by 10 m; velocity plateaus early in the race.
Where to start: Resisted sprints and sled pushes at a load that lets them hold the angle without grinding. Rebuild patience in the position.

Cutting the push short

What you see: High cadence from the first steps, short steps, athlete looks busy but is not moving.
Where to start: Stop cueing turnover. Long-response acceleration work and heavy strength to build the force the position demands.

Measurements that matter here

All eleven are listed on what we measure.

Questions2

How long is the drive phase in a 100m?

Typically the first 10 to 20 metres, though it varies with the athlete. Rather than a fixed distance it is better understood as the portion of the run where the athlete is still meaningfully accelerating from a forward lean, it ends when the trunk reaches upright and the mechanics become reactive rather than propulsive.

What is the difference between the drive phase and acceleration?

Acceleration describes the whole period where velocity is still rising, which for elite sprinters can run to 50 or 60 metres. The drive phase is the early part of that, characterised by the forward trunk lean and long ground contacts. An athlete is still accelerating well after the drive phase has ended.