A few years ago, I was helping out on a local proving ground for a Major League Baseball team. Approximately 50 attended an open test in the area for players between the ages of 16 and 23. I got there early and helped measure and paint a line for the 60 yard dash. If you’ve ever been to some kind of MLB tryout or even a top baseball showcase, they’ll always start the day with a 60-yard dash. That morning was no different. We divided the players into several groups and made them start stretching, then we started running them in pairs. At the end of the test, we had a 23-year-old and a recent little college football player who ran a 6.3-second, 60-yard dash.
If you know anything about the 60s, it is an extremely good time and the best I have ever witnessed. The scout who carried out the test (who had been working for more than 30 years and had signed several major leaguers) said it was the best he had timed. In fact, he asked the young man to execute him a second time, just to be sure. The time was the same. The next thing the scout said to me was, “If he can hit, field or pitch, we’ll sign him 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 they only have 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 on the field. The distance from 1B to 3B is 180 feet (60 yards). also gardeners have to cover a large area in the outfield when catching fly balls. The average Major League Baseball player will run the 60-yard dash in under 7.0 seconds, but this is more important for infielders and middle outfielders. Powerful first / third base hitters, catchers, and pitchers don’t need to run a good 60 times.
In general, a baseball player must still have specific skills and instincts. Without the ability to run bases, throw and catch and hit a fastball, running speed is not very useful.
There are many who will tell you that Major League Baseball is behind in evaluating athletes and that the 60-yard dash measurement is out of date. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the SPARQ test system was designed to assess general athleticism in various sports, including baseball. SPARQ is synonymous with speed, power, agility and speed. The general idea was developed by Rudy Chapa, a former All American track and cross country runner at the University of Oregon. The baseball test for SPARQ was developed by ERic Trice of Trice Athletics in 2006, while working for SPARQ. Trice was a former professional baseball and track athlete. Nike has used SPARQ as a (very popular) general marketing tool since 2004 to sell cross-training shoes, 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: measure acceleration
– Rotary Power Ball Throw (3kg): Measures core strength, total body power, and rotary core movement common in baseball.
– Vertical jump: general athletics
The overall testing involved in SPARQ is good, but MLB still accepts the 60-yard dash. The SPARQ rating system has been accepted more by American football than by baseball until now, although several universities and the best baseball storefronts are using the SPARQ tests.
Another component of the SPARQ system is the SPARQ training. This second component is the training system to help young athletes improve. Individuals can obtain certifications, videos, and training tools to set up a store and start the business of coaching young athletes. The problem is that some people who get the credentials and the team are not always fully certified athletic trainers. SPARQ is in the current process of re-evaluating your training qualification and 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 type 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.
To learn more about how to improve your players’ 60-yard dash time and why American football uses the 40-yard dash for testing, CLICK HERE!