The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering 40 yards (36.576 m). It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can heavily impact his prospects in college or the pros. This was traditionally only true for the 'skill' positions such as quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and defensive back, although now a fast 40 yard dash time is considered important for almost every position. Sprints are short running races in athletics. ... A yard (abbreviation: yd) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Professional sports scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scouts organization. ... The NFL Draft (officially the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting[1]) is an annual sports draft in which National Football League (NFL) teams take turns, through seven rounds[2], selecting amateur college American football players and other first-time eligible players. ... A college football game between Colorado State and Air Force. ... In college athletics, recruiting is the term used for the process whereby college coaches add new players to their roster of student-athletes each off-season. ... Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco sets up to throw. ... P.J. Daniels was a star running back for Georgia Tech from 2002-2005. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players, who take positions directly behind the line of scrimmage. ...

Timing

Because so much emphasis is placed on the 40, many players or programs claim to have run much faster times than they actually did. Part of this is simply false, but sometimes it does happen. Also, partially electronic methods (started by hand, stopped electronically) can be considered accurate. This method is used at the NFL Combine. However, because this method usually records slower times, many players in recent years have declined to be timed electronically, preferring to be timed in personal workouts where they think they will get a more favorable time by hand. The National Invitational Camp or NFL Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indianas RCA Dome, where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of NFL coaches, general managers and scouts. ...

Best times

Many reported times are unreliable due to differences in timing methods if not intentional falsifications. The NFL did not begin using partial electronic timing (started by hand, stopped electronically) at the Scouting Combine until 1990.

In track and field races, the runner must react to the starting gun, which can take 0.10 to 0.20 seconds. For electronically timed 40 yard dashes, the runner is allowed to start when he wishes, and a timer hand-starts the clock (after a reaction time that is often considered to average 0.24 seconds when a starter reacts to the smoke of the starting gun). Although the 40-yard dash is not an official race in track and field, the 60 meter dash is an official distance in indoor track and field, with the world record for that race being 6.39 seconds (run twice by Maurice Greene, and once by Ben Johnson, whose record was annulled for Steroids). The fastest 60m split time is probably 6.32 seconds by Asafa Powell, in his 9.74 second 100m World Record run in Rieti, Italy. Fast starting elite sprinters such as Powell (and others past and present) can run a "Football 40" in less than 4 seconds, due to the sprinter not having to react to the sound of the gun, and the starter having to react to their movement before the clock starts. In the 2001 World Championship 100m final in Edmonton, Greene covered 30m in 3.75 seconds and 40m in 4.64 seconds, putting his 40 yard (36.576m) time at about 4.242 seconds. When you subtract the reaction time to the gun (0.13 seconds), and a hypothetical timer's reaction time to Greene's motion, Greene's "Football 40" time for this race would have been less than 4 seconds. Athletics, also known as track and field or track and field athletics, is a collection of sport events. ... Reaction time, in humans, is the elapsed time between the receiving of stimuli and the subsequent reaction. ... 60 metres is a sprint event in athletics. ... Maurice Greene (born July 23, 1974) is an American sprinter in athletics, who holds several world records and Olympic medals. ... Asafa Powell (born 23 November 1982) is a Jamaican sprinter who currently holds the 100 m world record with a time of 9. ...

There actually is no single, "official" 40 time at the NFL Combine. National Scouting, which runs the combine, provides three times per run, two fully hand-held and one stopped electronically. Each player may run twice, thereby yielding a potential six times. National Scouting provides all six of these times to NFL teams. The teams then do what they want with those times, or ignore them. Some teams use the best electronic time. Some teams throw out the fastest and slowest and average the rest. Some teams use the best time provided. And some teams use a time provided by their own scout on site.

 == Criticisms == 

Some football analysts claim that the 40-yard dash is poorly correlated with football ability, as most players seldom are required to sprint this distance in a game. It has been said as well that 40 times are not a good indicator of 'football speed,' or how fast a player will actually seem when running while wearing a full uniform (including pads) on a football field, rather than a track, and in the presence of opposing players. In probability theory and statistics, correlation, also called correlation coefficient, is a numeric measure of the strength of linear relationship between two random variables. ...

Many players have gone on to have stellar NFL careers after recording a "disappointing" 40 time -- for example:

• Jerry Rice reportedly ran a 4.6 or 4.7 second 40-yard dash (regarded as a mediocre figures for a wide receiver)^{[citation needed]} . He went on to play in 13 Pro Bowls, win 3 Super Bowls, and break numerous NFL receiving records NFL records (at the time of his retirement he had 28 NFL records). Said former teammate Ronnie Lott, "Jerry may have been a 4.6 or a 4.7, but he was a 4.2 on Sundays." Rice was also generally noted for being able to run as fast a 40-yard dash under the weight of heavy NFL padding as he was in track gear.

• Emmitt Smith ran the 40 in 4.56 seconds, and at one time actually ran 4.6-4.7, considered flat-out slow for a running back. Despite his record-breaking college career, he was selected 17th in the 1990 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He later went on to become the NFL's all time leading rusher and won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys. Another running back, Blair Thomas, was selected much earlier with the second pick -- in part because of his 4.4 second 40 time. Smith went on to set the all-time rushing mark and win three Super Bowls, while Thomas had a good but much less noteworthy career.

Neverthless, in many cases players who have recorded slow 40 times at the NFL Combine have gone on to perform poorly in the NFL, whose players are largely faster than those in college football. Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962 in Crawford, Mississippi) is a former football wide receiver in the NFL. Rice is widely regarded as among the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, consistently showing exceptional performance and strong work ethic on and off of the field. ... In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League (NFL). ... The winning Super Bowl team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy. ... Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962 in Crawford, Mississippi) is a former football wide receiver in the NFL. Rice is widely regarded as among the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, consistently showing exceptional performance and strong work ethic on and off of the field. ... Emmitt James Smith III (born May 15, 1969 in Pensacola, Florida) is a former American football player, who played for the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals. ... The 1990 NFL Draft // 1990 NFL Draft Category: ... City Irving, Texas Other nicknames Americas Team, The Boys, The Pokes Team colors White, Silver, Silver-Green, Royal Blue, Navy Blue Head Coach Wade Phillips Owner Jerry Jones General manager Jerry Jones League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1960–present) Western Conference (1960) Eastern Conference (1961-1969) Capitol Division... Blair Lamar Thomas (born October 7, 1967 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former professional American football player and coach. ...

Many players with incredible times have also done amazing things in the NFL, for example: NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ...

• Deion Sanders officially ran a 3.9 in the 40, and a 4.1 backwards.

• Devin Hester ran a disappointing 4.5 40 at the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine, but then ran a 4.35 when he participated in Miami University's Pro Day. He is now considered one of the best kick returners in NFL history and holds numerous return records.

• Ellis Hobbs, a cornerback currently playing for the New England Patriots, ran a 4.3 second 40-yard dash and has gone on to tie the record for the second-longest play, the longest being from chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie on a field goal that was returned. (a 108 yard kick return; Devin Hester and Nathan Vasher), and also hold the record for the longest kick return.

• Randy Moss, a wide receiver currently playing for the New England Patriots, ran a 4.25 second 40 yard dash. Moss currently holds the rookie TD reception record with 17.

• DeAngelo Hall, a cornerback currently playing for the Atlanta Falcons, ran a 4.15 (on rubber track, which is considered informal for the 40 yard) second 40 yard dash. On a regular dirt track he ran a 4.24.

• Reggie Bush ran a 4.33, in 2006, he was the first rookie to score on a return, he also was the only rookie and the only running back to score a rushing TD and punt return TD. He also led the rookie running backs in receiving and set the NFL record for most catches by a NFL rookie running back

Other notable 40 yard dash times (not all official or electric gate times) are: Deion Luwynn Sanders aka Neon Deion aka Primetime, born August 9, 1967 in Fort Myers, Florida, is a former National Football League cornerback, Major League Baseball outfielder, and is currently an NFL Network commentator. ... Devin Hester (born November 4, 1982) is a wide receiver and return specialist, who plays for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. ... , This article is about the university in Oxford, Ohio. ... Special teams are units in American football and Canadian football that are on the field during kickoffs, free kicks, punts, and field goal attempts. ... NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ... Ellis Hobbs III (born May 16, 1983 in Niagara Falls, New York) is an American football cornerback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. ... For corner back, the Gaelic football and hurling position, see Gaelic football and Hurling positions . ... City Foxborough, Massachusetts Other nicknames The Pats Team colors Nautical Blue, New Century Silver, Red, and White Head Coach Bill Belichick Owner Robert Kraft General manager Bill Belichick (de facto) Mascot Pat Patriot League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960–69) Eastern Division (1960–69) National Football League (1970–present... Devin Hester (born November 4, 1982) is a wide receiver and return specialist, who plays for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. ... Nathan Vasher (born November 17, 1981 in Wichita Falls, Texas), full name Nathanial DeWayne Vasher, is an American football cornerback who plays for the Chicago Bears. ... Randy Moss (born February 13, 1977 in Rand, West Virginia) is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots. ... The wide receiver (WR) position in American and Canadian football is the pass-catching specialist. ... City Foxborough, Massachusetts Other nicknames The Pats Team colors Nautical Blue, New Century Silver, Red, and White Head Coach Bill Belichick Owner Robert Kraft General manager Bill Belichick (de facto) Mascot Pat Patriot League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960–69) Eastern Division (1960–69) National Football League (1970–present... DeAngelo Eugene Hall (born November 19, 1983 in Chesapeake, Virginia) is an American football cornerback currently starting for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. He was acquired in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech with the eighth overall selection. ... For corner back, the Gaelic football and hurling position, see Gaelic football and Hurling positions . ... City Atlanta, Georgia Team colors Black, Red, and White Head Coach Bobby Petrino Owner Arthur Blank General manager Rich McKay Mascot Freddie Falcon League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1966–present) Eastern Conference (1966) Western Conference (1967-69) Coastal Division (1967-1969) National Football Conference (1970-present) NFC West (1970... Reginald Alfred Bush III (born March 2, 1985 in San Diego, California), commonly known as Reggie and nicknamed The Human Highlight Reel T, Baby Matrix (by Joe Horn) and The Presidents Black Brother (alluding to President Bush), is an American football player who plays for the New Orleans Saints...

Bo Jackson (RB,OAKLAND) ran a 4.18, Joey Galloway (WR,TAMPA BAY) ran a 4.18, Michael Bennett (RB,TAMPA BAY) supposedly ran a 4.13, Willie Gault, who played with Walter Payton on the 1985 Chicago Bears, supposedly has time of 3.75 and 4.08, considering this, the fastest 40 ran by a professional sprinter was 3.9/4.0 by Asafa Powell (9.74,World Record), so the 3.75 stands as incorrect. However, Gault did once run a more legitimate 4.1 40. There have been many other 4.1 and 4.2 40 yard dashes recorded, and many of these were hand timed once again bringing in the human factor of, "margin for error". Vincent Edward Bo Jackson (born November 30, 1962 in Bessemer, Alabama) is an American athlete and a former multi-sport professional. ... Randy Joseph Joey Galloway (born November 20, 1971 in Bellaire, Ohio) is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League and part owner of the Arena Football League Columbus Destroyers. ... Bennett on the cover of his 1990 biography by Kevin Kelly Michael Bennett (April 8, 1943 - July 2, 1987) was a Tony Award-winning American musical theater director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. ... Willie James Gault (born September 5, 1960 in Griffin, Georgia) was a National Football League wide receiver with the 1985/86 Chicago Bears team that won Super Bowl XX. Gault was the prototypical speed merchant, meaning his greatest asset was his pure straight line swiftness. ... Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1954 – November 1, 1999) was an American football player, who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. ... City Chicago, Illinois Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway Team colors Navy Blue and Orange Head Coach Lovie Smith Owner Virginia Halas McCaskey Chairman Michael McCaskey General manager Jerry Angelo Fight song Bear Down, Chicago Bears Mascot Staley Da Bear League/Conference affiliations Independent (1919) National Football... Asafa Powell (born 23 November 1982) is a Jamaican sprinter who currently holds the 100 m world record with a time of 9. ...

While the 40-yard dash receives a great deal of fan attention, NFL scouts also consider 10- and 20-yard dashes, as well as shuttle runs and cone drills, as measures of a player's agility and speed. Fans of Janet Jackson, at Much Music in Toronto The word fan refers to someone who has an intense, occasionally overwhelming liking of a person, group of persons, work of art, idea, or trend. ...

[[Terrel Owens)] Ran 4.49 on rookie scouting, but now he runs a 4.45.