Best At-Home Speed Workout for Youth Athletes - Cedar Park/Leander Athlete Training

Ben Lustig
May 19
2 min read

cedar park youth athlete training speed at Barbell Coalition

Build Explosive Speed with Minimal Equipment

At Barbell Coalition, we specialize in training Cedar Park & Leander athletes to improve their speed, and makes them strong and explosive on the court or field.

Whether your child is a competitive athlete or just starting out in sports, speed is a game-changer.

The ability to accelerate quickly, change direction efficiently, and maintain top-end speed can give youth athletes a major advantage—no matter the sport.

But what if you don’t have access to a training facility or field every day? The good news: youth athletes can build real speed at home with just a little space and the right plan.

Why Athletes Need Speed

Speed isn’t just about running fast. It’s a skill that can be developed like any other. Training for speed improves:

Neuromuscular coordination
Acceleration and deceleration
Explosive power
Confidence on the field or court

And for youth athletes, developing these qualities early on sets the foundation for long-term athletic success.

What You’ll Need:

A flat, open space (backyard, driveway, or hallway works!)
A stopwatch or timer (your phone works fine)
A resistance band (optional)
A cone, shoe, or marker

Best At-Home Speed Workout for Youth Athletes

This workout can be done 2–3x per week and takes just 20–30 minutes.

Dynamic Warm-Up (5–7 minutes)

Prepping the body is essential for injury prevention and performance.

High knees x 30 seconds
Butt kicks x 30 seconds
Leg swings (front-to-back and side-to-side) x 10/leg
Lunges with a twist x 10 reps
Skipping for height x 2 rounds of 20 yards
Skipping for distance x 2 rounds of 20 yards

Acceleration Drills (8–10 minutes)

These help build explosive first steps—critical for game-speed movements.

Wall Drives – 3 sets of 10/legLean against a wall, drive knees up as if sprinting in place.
Falling Starts – 3 sets of 3Lean forward until you have to catch yourself, then sprint 5–10 yards.
3-Point Starts – 3 sets of 5 yardsStart in a 3-point stance (like a sprinter), then burst forward.

Top-Speed Mechanics (5–7 minutes)

Focus on posture, rhythm, and stride length.

A-Skips – 2 sets of 20 yards
Bounding – 2 sets of 15 yards
Straight-leg runs – 2 sets of 20 yards

Change of Direction + Agility (5 minutes)

Agility improves the ability to stop, cut, and re-accelerate fast.

Cone Shuffle Drill – 3 roundsSet two cones or markers 5 yards apart. Lateral shuffle back and forth for 15 seconds.
Pro-Agility Drill (5-10-5) – 3 repsStart in the middle, sprint right 5 yards, left 10 yards, and back to center 5 yards.