Purpose: This study was employed choice reaction time to compare four starting techniques included cross-over step, jab-step, standing sprinter's start, and the momentum start to determine the fastest start technique for optimum speed in base running in slow pitch softball. Methods: The participants were 40 male college students who had been practiced these start techniques for 8 weeks. Total response time was recorded to the nearest 1/100 second using a Dekan Automatic Performance Analyzer arranged with two starting lights and a stop gate. Results: A one way repeated measures ANOVA indicated that there were significant different among four starting techniques (p< .01). After post hoc tests, the momentum start was significantly (p< .05) slower than the other starts compared while there were no significant differences among the other starts. F-value ranging from 0.08 to 1.41 (p> .05), obtained using the one way repeated measures ANOVA tests for multiple trial data, signified no trends among trials and high reliability of the testing procedures and equipment. Conclusions: The results suggested that the momentum start was the slowest among the four starts. There were no differences between the cross-over step, jab-step, and the standing sprinter's start techniques for speed in slow pitch softball bases running.
Purpose: This study was employed choice reaction time to compare four starting techniques included cross-over step, jab-step, standing sprinter's start, and the momentum start to determine the fastest start technique for optimum speed in base running in slow pitch softball. Methods: The participants were 40 male college students who had been practiced these start techniques for 8 weeks. Total response time was recorded to the nearest 1/100 second using a Dekan Automatic Performance Analyzer arranged with two starting lights and a stop gate. Results: A one way repeated measures ANOVA indicated that there were significant different among four starting techniques (p< .01). After post hoc tests, the momentum start was significantly (p< .05) slower than the other starts compared while there were no significant differences among the other starts. F-value ranging from 0.08 to 1.41 (p> .05), obtained using the one way repeated measures ANOVA tests for multiple trial data, signified no trends among trials and high reliability of the testing procedures and equipment. Conclusions: The results suggested that the momentum start was the slowest among the four starts. There were no differences between the cross-over step, jab-step, and the standing sprinter's start techniques for speed in slow pitch softball bases running.