Speed or Accelleration??

As a strength coach I get asked all the time “can you make me faster?” My question back to them is always, “why” followed by, “what sport do you play?” Since majority of the athletes that I deal with play sports that involve a lot of cutting, stopping and acceleration to the next attack point, I have to stop and wonder where this obsession over speed comes
from.

Do not get me wrong speed is great but during a football or soccer game how many times does a player reach max velocity? If you can not come up with a quick answer that question then speed is not what you truly desire.

Unless you are running track or you have a pro scout combine in a few short weeks where tenth off your 40 will equal millions or free agency you need not worry about speed. You need to worry more about acceleration.   Acceleration is the key to speed.  How fast is you first step or how fast is your first 10yrds of your 40yrd dash, are the question that you need to ask yourself the next time you think you are not fast enough.

The quicker you can accelerate the faster you will be at Max- V. Once you become a better accelerator you will be come a better player because with most sports they are a series a burst and stops. The players they understand this and master this will ultimately seem and will be the faster players on the field. But if you really want more speed you need to go look right in your own home and thank mom and dad for that.

Remember work on first step quickness and your initial burst and you will ultimately change your overall game speed and Max-V.

Roy Holmes, CSCS