The 40 yard dash is one of the most well-known performance tests in sports. But anyone who has tried to time it knows the headaches: complicated setups, inconsistent starting positions, and results that vary as much by the timing system as by the athlete’s actual speed.
That’s why we created Tru40 – a system from OVR that makes measuring speed simple, repeatable, and meaningful.
Why the 40 Can Be a Problem
Traditional 40-yard testing can start with an “in-beam” start, hand-down position, or on the athlete's first movement. This creates some issues:
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Inconsistent results: Timing gates at zero are noisy. Hand placement, posture, or tiny shifts can change times dramatically.
- Unrealistic starts: Most athletes don’t compete in a stance that looks like a 3-point football start.
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Slow process: Rigid setups mean fewer athletes tested per session.
The outcome: results that say more about the setup than the athlete.
How Tru40 Works
Tru40 solves the problem by removing the zero-yard start. Instead, the test begins once the athlete is already moving. Here’s the base protocol:
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Athlete gets a 10-yard run-up.
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Timing starts at the 10-yard mark.
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Timing ends at either the 20 yard, 40 yard, or 60 yard mark. (Flying 10 yard is also an option)
These splits tell us everything we need to know. If you hit a certain pace at 10 yards, we know you accelerated properly out of the start. The split times thereafter create a consistent, fair measurement of sprinting ability.
The Splits You Can Test
The Tru40 isn’t just one test. It’s a system of splits that can fit different sports and positions:
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10–40: The standard Tru40. A full 40-yard dash equivalent without the messy start.
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10–20: A short acceleration test. Perfect for linemen, softball players, and athletes in small spaces where quick bursts matter most.
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Fly 10: Measures top-end velocity once the athlete is already at speed. Great for track athletes and speed specialists.
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10–60: Extended test for athletes or sports that prefer longer distances.
Each split can be plugged into the Tru40 Calculator, which converts your result into an equivalent 40-yard dash time, a "Tru40". This way, you can speak the “language” of the 40 even if you don’t run the full thing.
Why Tru40 is Better
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Faster testing: With shorter distance options, test dozens of athletes in no time.
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Less restrictive: No need for special stances or long tracks. Works in gyms, hallways, or sidewalks.
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Broader use: Applicable for all sports, not just football.
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More meaningful data: Lets you break down acceleration vs top-end speed so you know what to train.
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Motivating for athletes: Everyone understands the 40. By converting splits to a Tru40 time, athletes get a number they care about – and push harder to improve.
Coaching Insights
Tru40 isn’t just about faster testing. It’s a diagnostic tool:
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If an athlete’s 10–20 pace predicts a faster Tru40 than their Fly 10, they need more top-end speed work.
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If their Fly 10 predicts better than their 10–20, they need more strength and acceleration work.
This helps coaches tailor training to the individual, without over-testing or burning athletes out.
The Takeaway
The 40-yard dash isn’t going away. It’s a universal language of speed. But with Tru40, you can finally measure it in a way that is simple, repeatable, and useful across all sports.
Whether you’re training football players, baseball athletes, soccer teams, or track sprinters, the Tru40 gives you a number that matters – without the headaches of traditional timing.
