22nd Annual Student Research Conference
Difference in Hand Timing and Electronic Timing in the 40 Yard Dash Among College Males
Alexis H. Meinke*, Lindsay M. Dodge, Dan P. Jones, Gabriel I. Anders, Zachary A. Hollingsworth, and Aaron D. Horschig
Dr. Jeremy Houser and Dr. Jerry L. Mayhew , Faculty Mentors
The purpose of this study was to determine the source of timing differentials between hand-timing and electrical-timing systems. Twenty-seven male college-aged volunteers ran two 40-yard dashes on an indoor tartan floor. A computerized data collection system recorded events from runner stimulated devices: a hand start pad, a foot start pad, and a photocell stop beam. This same system also recorded start and stop hand-held stopwatch button depressions, as initiated by six human observers. Recorded event times showed that hand-timing recorded significantly slower initiations of the start event, 0.065 seconds slower than the two electronic start signals. This disparity combined with the 0.160 s quicker stopping time by the hand timers as compared to the photocell led the hand-timing system to give significantly quicker 40 yard dash times (0.225 seconds) than the electronic timing method. All results were significant at p<0.001.
Keywords: sprints, 40-yd dash, timing, electronic, human, perception
Topic(s):Exercise Science
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 4-16
Location: PML
Time: 4:15