I still tend to think you are not getting this. I can not stress it enough. Try these recommendations on your next shoot. My advice is never, never, use manual anything! Not manual exposure control and not manual focus.
Number 5. Always shoot Raw format never, ever, jpg. And, use a good post editor. A favorite setting used by the best pro sports photographers is Av mode where you set an aperture, in your case select wide open. Use One shot not Ai-servo at first and rarely after that. Use Auto ISO, set an upper and lower limit that you can live with (more grian as it goes higher but less light is needed). Now with Av mode set up the 7D will determine the correct SS for the proper exposure. Using Raw and a post editor will allow for enhanced ability to adjust exposure, sometimes up to 4 or more stops. That is extremely important and valuable. So far all of this is free to do. It costs you nothing as Canon offers you for free the very good DPP4 as a post editor and Raw converter. Raw files basically do not save any other information besides exposure and focus. All that can be set in DPP4 or other good editor like Photoshop. However, all editors use the jpg settings to make the initial viewable image so keep that in mind. Raw images are not viewable themselves.
So you are going to set Av mode and select f2.8 or f4 for the aperture. Try both. Now that will become fixed. Next set an upper and lower limit to your ISO. It's in the menus a good choice might be 100 to 3200. Now that is set. Make sure the lens is on AF and you have the IS switch on.
Set file format to Raw. Import to your computer in DPP4. This is as good as it gets. You can't do better using manual. and you can't do as well if you don't use Raw and DPP4. If possible get to the gym or venue well before hand and try some random shots. Perhaps bring along a willing subject. Even if you have fantastic gear if you use it wrong it won't do the job.
Please................
EB
EOS 1D, EOS 1D MK IIn, EOS 1D MK III, EOS 1D MK IV and EOS 1DX and many lenses.
