How to Hand Time a 40-Yard Dash

The 40-yard dash is one of the most important tests in evaluating a football player's speed. Other major tests judge how many pounds a player can bench press and squat, along with measuring the vertical jump. In no other sport is the timing of the 40-yard dash as important as it is in football. Professional and college teams have even taken to using electronic timers, alongside the traditional stopwatch, to clock a player's 40-yard dash speed. Even with new technology, almost every coach still wants to hold a stopwatch in his hand and witness the results for himself.

Things You'll Need

  • Stopwatch
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Stand at the finish line holding the stopwatch.

    • 2

      Raise your free arm in the air so the runner can see it clearly.

    • 3

      Lower your raised arm. This is the signal for the runner to go.

    • 4

      Start the stopwatch the exact moment you see the runner move.

    • 5

      Stop the stopwatch the exact moment the runner crosses the finish line.