TTime – wireless timing
TTime
Guides/Training and testing
Guide · Speed testing

Testing speed
over 10, 20 and 30 m

A simple, repeatable protocol to measure your athletes’ acceleration and top speed, and compare results from one session to the next.

Sprint6 min readUpdated 29 September 2026
What we measure

One distance, one quality

0 to 10 m: the start

The ability to produce force from the very first steps. This is the most useful distance in most team sports.

10 to 30 m: acceleration

The transition from pushing to a more upright running position. Split times show where the athlete loses time.

Flying sprint: top speed

After a 20 to 30 m run-up, the time over 20 or 30 m gives top speed, without the influence of the start.

A speed test is only worth something if it is repeated under the same conditions. The whole protocol below is built around repeatability: same starting position, same warm-up, same surface, same shoes.

Setup

Preparing the lane

With four gates, a single run gives the 10, 20 and 30 m times.

1
Use a measuring tape

Gates at 0, 10, 20 and 30 m. Do not pace it out: a 30 cm error skews every time.

2
Set the height

Beam at hip height, the same on every gate. Details in the placement guide.

3
Fix the start

Front foot 30 to 50 cm behind the first gate. Write down the distance and keep it for every test.

4
Do a dry run

One run at a jog: each gate must record once, and only once.

The start skews more measurements than anything else. If the athlete moves their foot forward or back from one session to the next, the 10 m time changes without any real progress or decline.
Procedure

The test session

  • 15 to 20 minute warm-up: jogging, drills, then two or three progressive accelerations over the test distance.
  • Standing start, no signal: the athlete goes when ready and the timer starts as they pass the first gate. We measure speed, not reaction time.
  • Two to three attempts per athlete, with full recovery of 3 to 5 minutes between each. An athlete who is out of breath is no longer testing their speed.
  • Keep the best attempt as the day’s result, and also note the gap to the worst one: it is a good indicator of consistency.

Top speed variant: place the first gate after a 20 m run-up, then a second one 20 or 30 m further on. The athlete arrives at full speed and the time between the two gates gives their top speed.

Results

Reading the times

Average speed over a segment is simple to calculate: distance ÷ time, in meters per second. Multiply by 3.6 to get km/h.

Segment Time Average speed
10 m standing start 1.85 s 5.41 m/s · 19.5 km/h
30 m standing start 4.20 s 7.14 m/s · 25.7 km/h
20 m flying 2.20 s 9.09 m/s · 32.7 km/h

Over short distances, differences come down to hundredths of a second. Compare an athlete with themselves rather than with tables, and look at the trend over several tests rather than a single attempt.

Split times tell you what to work on: an athlete who is fast over 0–10 m but plateaus over 20–30 m does not have the same need as an athlete who is slow off the mark but keeps accelerating.

FAQ

Before you start

Do I need a start signal?
Not for a speed test. A free start, triggered by the first gate, removes reaction time and makes attempts comparable. A start on a signal is for training reaction: that is a different test. The TTime app can play that signal from your phone.
How many gates do I need?
Two are enough for a single time (0–10 m for example). Four give you 10, 20 and 30 m in a single run.
How often should I repeat the test?
Every four to six weeks is enough to track progress. Always pick the same time of the week, with no heavy session the day before.
Can I run this test with a handheld stopwatch?
Over 10 m, the error of a handheld stopwatch often exceeds the progress you are trying to measure. We explain why in Stopwatch or timing gates.

A question about your protocol?

Tell us about your sport and your setup, and we will help you place your gates.