Giving coaches trusted, actionable data is a principle we’ve shared since the beginning, and what led us to create the Speed Science Institute.
The Speed Science Institute is our governing body for how we develop, interpret, and teach coaches to use performance data. It brings together some of the most respected minds in speed and sport science to ensure that every initiative we build is backed by the best thinking in the field.
Today, we are proud to announce the two founding members of the Institute.
Executive Sports Scientist: Ken Clark, Ph.D.
Dr. Ken Clark is one of the most trusted names in sprint biomechanics and speed science.
With a Ph.D. in Applied Physiology and Biomechanics, more than 20 years as a sports performance coach, and a role as Biomechanical Consultant for USA Track and Field Sports Science, Ken brings a level of rigor to speed assessment that very few people in the country can match.
His work at Ken Clark Speed has been centered on bridging the gap between speed science and its real-world application in sport, which is exactly the kind of thinking Universal Speed Rating is built to support.
“This role integrates several areas of the field I am passionate about, including sports science, research, coaching, and athlete development,” said Dr. Clark. “By utilizing rigorous and repeatable data collection and analysis, the SSI and USR will ensure that athletes and their coaches receive trusted feedback that provides immediate steps for development.”
Executive Director: Peter Ruppe
Peter Ruppe brings more than 20 years of experience at Nike, where he served as a founding leader of Nike SPARQ. SPARQ was a performance rating system designed to give athletes a standardized score across a series of athletic tests, a concept that shares real DNA with what Universal Speed Rating is building today.
Peter's background in building credible, athlete-facing evaluation frameworks at the highest level of the industry makes him the right person to help lead this institute forward.
“Ken has produced the most respected research on acceleration and max velocity in the field.” Said Les Spellman, USR Co-Founder. “Peter helped set the standard for athlete evaluation at the highest level of the industry. Putting those two together, with the research depth and real-world experience, is the kind of foundation the Speed Science Institute needed. We are incredibly proud to have them leading this work.”
The Speed Science Institute is already underway on its first major initiative, which will be announced very soon. Listen to Universal Speed Rating Co-Founder Les Spellman explain the vision behind the Institute and what makes it unique:
As the Institute grows, we will be announcing additional members who bring expertise across sport science, athlete development, and performance technology.
Stay tuned for more on how Universal Speed Rating is shaping the future of athlete evaluation with the introduction of the Speed Science Institute.
Want to get involved with Universal Speed Rating? Schedule a call with a member of our team to see if your facility is a fit to become a Speed Lab.