Why Should Every Athlete Speed Train? – Its More Than Just Running

By Aaron Thigpen, Gamespeed Feb 2021

Training for greater speed requires a comprehensive program that can be beneficial to all athletes. Here is a whole list of activities used in speed training that can benefit any athlete. 

First, athletes need to improve strength to get faster.  Speed training incorporates a variety of  forms of resistance training (weights, resistance bands, medicine balls, etc).

To move faster, athletes need to raise their maximum power outputs to generate higher forces.  This improvement in power can help any athlete needing to be more explosive.

Anaerobic endurance training gives athletes the capacity to sustain repeated bouts of high speed. A great attribute for athletes playing field and court sports.

Agility drills used in speed training develop coordination and body control which can be applied to a variety of sport movements such as cutting, starting stopping, zig zagging and back pedaling.

Resistance running is a staple in speed training as it improves leg strength and teaches athletes to apply and use horizontal force effectively.

Plyometrics uses jump training to tie the quickness athletes develop with the force they ‘ve attained from strength training. This results in a more explosive athlete. In addition, Plyometric jump exercises can improve accelerative as well as decelerative abilities (ie start and stop).

Specific Coordination exercises bridge strength with the proper movement patterns. By using a variety of drills  athletes learn proper motor patterns as well as tie in strength to those movements.

Speed training uses work on unstable surfaces to improve awareness, reduce risk of injury and improve efficiency of movement. This can help not only straight line activities but also change of direction.

Speed training uses Single leg training exercises to eliminate deficiencies in strength, balance and coordination that slow athletes down.

Sprint training on the track ( intervals, accelerations etc) teaches you to be competitive and rehearse being fast. Gotta use that speed under pressure.

Balance training is to develop joint strength and stability as well as teach the correct firing patterns to achieve higher speeds.

Training the Core allows force to travel properly through the body to the limbs. They can also develop proper posture for the optimum positions needed by faster athletes for all sport movements.

In speed training Mobility exercises create greater ranges of motion for the limbs and improve flexibility.

Need I go on? quite simply, All athletes need to speed train. The comprehensive training required to get faster can pay benefits to athletes in any sport. What do you have to lose?

Check out our speed classes: Here: Get Fast!! or call/text 925 222-9612.