Good coaching is part art, part science. The science part comes from measurement — and at The Workshop we use objective performance testing so that training decisions are based on data, not guesswork. Two of our most valuable tools are force plates and sprint gates.
What force plates tell us
A force plate measures exactly how much force an athlete produces, how quickly they produce it, and whether they’re doing it evenly through both legs. From a simple countermovement jump we can read jump height, peak force, rate of force development and left-to-right asymmetry. Asymmetry is especially useful: a meaningful imbalance between legs can flag injury risk long before it becomes a problem, letting us address it in training.
What sprint gates tell us
Sprint gates are timing sensors placed at set distances — typically 10m, 20m and 40m. As an athlete runs through, we capture precise split times. That shows us not just how fast they are overall, but where their speed comes from: are they a strong accelerator who fades, or a slow starter with a high top end? Each profile needs a different training emphasis.
Turning numbers into a plan
On their own, numbers are just numbers. Their value is in what they direct. We re-test periodically so athletes can see real, measurable progress — a higher jump, less asymmetry, a faster 10m split — and so we can adjust the programme based on what’s actually working. Testing keeps everyone honest and keeps training pointed at the things that matter most for that individual.