There are a few advantages flat-footed athletes have. One is that they have better balance and stability. The reason is pretty simple. More of your foot is in contact with the ground, so it’s easier to spread the weight across a wider surface area and gain proper balance and stability. Another advantage is that a flat-footed athlete can generate more speed. Once again, the more surface area you have in contact with, the more force and power you can generate. This can be translated into speed with the proper technique.