Overview
The Breakaway Sprint Assessment is designed to measure an athlete's acceleration and maximum speed over 60 feet (20 yards) using the Breakaway Speed App. The assessment involves two segments: 0-30 feet for acceleration and 30-60 feet for sprinting. Data is captured with two iPhones and managed through the app.
Equipment
2 IPHONES WITH THE BREAKAWAY SPEED APP INSTALLED
6 CONES
2 TRIPODS
MEASURING TAPE
DUCT TAPE FOR MARKING THE STARTING LINE
Staff
2 COACHES OR INSTRUCTORS TO OPERATE CAMERAS AND MANAGE THE ASSESSMENT
Setup
Accuracy begins with setup. Clear the turf space and establish a 60-foot lane with ample slow-down space beyond the finish line for athletes to decelerate safely.
1. Marking the Lane:
0 Feet (Start) — Place two cones 2–3 feet apart. Mark the starting point with tape behind the cones
30 Feet — Place two cones to define the acceleration gate
60 Feet (Finish) — Place the final pair of cones
2. Camera Placement:
Camera 1 (Acceleration) — Position on a tripod between the 0 and 30-foot cones. Assign one coach or instructor to operate this camera
Camera 2 (Max Speed) — Position on a tripod between the 30 and 60-foot cones. Assign a second coach or instructor to operate this camera
Orientation — iPhones must be in landscape mode with the top of the phone on the left and the record button on the right. Ensure all relevant cones for that segment are visible in the frame
Execution
Before each run, all athletes not currently being tested must remain completely out of the camera frame.
Segment 1 — Acceleration (0 to 30 feet) | Coach 1
The athlete lines up in a base running stance with their right foot on the tape line behind the cones at 0 feet
Coach 1 says "Go" to start the camera — this is not the signal for the athlete to run. The athlete is expected to begin their run within 1–2 seconds of the command
Coach 1 stops recording as soon as the athlete crosses the 30-foot cones
Segment 2 — Max Speed (30 to 60 feet) | Coach 2
Coach 2 starts Camera 2 before the athlete reaches the 30-foot cones — do not wait until the athlete arrives at the gate to begin recording
Coach 2 stops recording once the athlete passes through the 60-foot cones
After Each Run — Saving the Athlete's Data
After recording, the app will navigate to the Confirm Capture Info Page
Each athlete provides their team/age group and name to both coaches so the correct athlete profile can be selected in the app
The current group is displayed at the top of the page — to switch groups, select the group name and choose from the available list
Once the correct athlete is selected, return to the collection screen and tap Save Changes
⚠️ Coach 2 must start recording before the athlete hits the 30-foot gate. Starting late will result in incomplete max speed data that cannot be recovered.
In this scenario, the data should be discarded and the athlete instructed to redo the sprint effort.
Talking Points with Athletes
Use these cues to ensure the athlete performs at their peak:
"Line up with your right foot against the tape."
"Start in a tall base-running stance."
"When I say 'Go,' sink into your legs and then explode."
"Run all the way through the final set of cones."
Expectation Management: Remind athletes that results are processed in the cloud and will populate in STACKS within 24 hours.
Uploading Results
After all athletes have completed their sessions, navigate to the Home Page of the Breakaway Speed App.
Select “Pending Assessments.”
Choose “Start Upload” to send the collected data for processing.
Login Credentials
To access the Breakaway Speed App, make sure each phone is signed into the facility’s designated Apple Account. The Breakaway App uses the Apple ID associated with the device for authentication.
Camera Positioning
To ensure accurate recording during assessments, place the iPhone in landscape orientation and so that the top of the phone is on the left and the record button is on the right side of the phone screen.