With the 2016 NFL Draft right around the corner, teams are starting to finalize their draft boards in preparation for the big evening. When it comes to selecting the right player there are many numbers that are factored into the decision; speed, size, athleticism, among many others. One of the most talked about measurables is 40-Yard Dash time. For skill position players, a 40 time can make or break their draft status.
The 40-yard Dash is timed at both the NFL Combine and a player’s collegiate Pro Day. Often times the players seem to run a better time at their Pro Day than they do at the combine. The reasoning behind this is rather simple; at a Pro Day, a player is manually timed by one of their coaches who starts the clock after the player takes off rather than when the player takes off.
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On the other hand, the timing for 40-yard dashes at the NFL Combine is done by a scientific laser-operated timing system that garners a far more accurate measurement. This is done with Zybek Sports which was founded in Boulder, Colorado in 2008. Zybek has been working with then NFL Combine since 2011 to achieve more accurate 40-Yard Dash times.
Zybek Sports’ PowerDash sets a laser sensor at the starting line and when the runner starts it automatically senses the motion and starts the timer. Once the athlete crosses the finish line there is another sensor that stops the time. Using this technology, Zybek is able to provide times that are much more accurate than with a hand timer. According to Mike Weinstein, Founder of Zybek Sports, when tracked with a hand timer, a 40 time on average is .175 seconds faster due to inaccuracies in the timing device.
“It’s not how fast you run, it’s how you time it,” said Weinstein who has yet to find a player that ran a faster 40 at their Pro Day than the Combine. This season’s combine and pro day results reflected on the idea that Pro Day times are generally faster.
“Our goal is to really pitch the idea that there are no standards for athletic testing,” said Weinstein. The goal for Zybek is to put an emphasis on how important it is at all levels of sports to have accurate numbers when it comes to testing a player’s athleticism. Weinstein is hoping to make it known to college and high school coaches that this technology is a crucial scouting tool and it can help them make sure they are getting the player that they want.
The tool that Zybek has created is something that can be used for generations to measure a player’s athleticism. It is exciting to see what this year’s NFL Draft has in store and whether or not times measured by Zybek play a role in where players are selected.
In the future, Zybek has plans to further their technology to other sports like hockey, lacrosse, basketball, and volleyball.