Rugby games are won on Speed. "Feel the Need for Speed" we used to say at my club.

I learned from a video of the Ajax Amsterdam soccer club Academy showing a lot fast feet exercises. Early nineties we also had a visit from Bath RUFC coaches who had some short zigzag sprinting runs. When I bought some plyometrics books and videos a started to create a nice mix of movement development exercises.

Enter the SAQ program! I was pleasantly surprised when I learned about this program where lots of my experiences where placed in a coherent program. (Always a confidence booster when you learn new things and find out you were already doing some of them....)

Based on his experience and knowledge, Alan Pearson, founder of SAQ, turned it all into a cohesive program targeted for rugby players. I think the program is very good, dynamic warming-up, interesting coordination drills and easily integrated into the rest of the rugby training. You can follow a 1-day course to learn all the ins & outs of the program. Also there is lots of equipment to help you develop SAQ for your team.

Best is to start out with the book and or DVD.

Improvement of Speed, Agility and Quickness is based on training the nervous system:

• Dynamic Flex warm-up,
• Mechanics of fast movement,
• Activation of neural pathways, Innervation
• Conditioning, working on movement in a controlled environment, Accumulation of potential
• Explosion, fast muscle strength, also called elastic strength,
• Implementation, Expression of potential

These elements make up the SAQ CONTINUUM(TM) and are described in more detail on the SAQ pages on my site. Some interesting photo's too!

Lots of coaches translate SAQ as running over these ladders, this okay I guess but SAQ is much more: a successful method of developing motor skills.