If you're the parent of a youth athlete, there's one thing you want them to be...faster!
Fast athletes are elite athletes.
They get to the ball before anyone else, they're on base way before the defense can make a play, and they're under for a single-leg or double-leg takedown before their opponent has time to sprawl.
When athletes come to Barbell Coalition, they seek this kind of athletic ability. Here's how our training delivers top-notch speed to Cedar Park athletes:
First, We Start With Building a Foundation of Strength
Without strength, there is no speed.
Lifting weights doesn't make athletes slow, it vastly improves their ability to push off the ground and make quick multi-directional movements needed for their sport.
Muscle growth is not a bad thing. This is not Arnold muscle we're talking about here. It's lean, fast-twitch muscle mass.
So with that in mind, for our athletes to be fast, we need them to be strong.
Being strong also makes an athlete overall more coordinated.
Coordination is a big part of being able to make quick movements an react to unpredictable circumstances in-game.
Speed Isn't Always a Straight Line
When we think of speed, we tend to think about how fast we can run from point A to point B (ex. the 40yd dash).
But, for the vast majority of field sports, athletes don't spend much time at their max speed. They're needing to change direction, back-pedal, re-accelerate, etc.
Again, this is specific to the sport and position being played.
However, the point is that while max speed training & mechanics are important to train, we also make sure we make athletes fast in all directions.
For this, we use various forms of plyometric exercises.
We Make Athletes More Coordinated in Their Movements
Oftentimes, when we see new athletes, they tend to be a bit uncoordinated and sloppy in their movements.
An example is performing an exercise like a broad jump and letting the chest and head sink forward on landing.
If we want athletes to perform quick multi-directional movements like I talked about above, they need to learn how to actively engage their bodies in these situations.
For example, even if an athlete is quick in their legs, if their upper body is flailing everywhere while they're moving in game, it's hindering how fast they could really be.
We train athletes how to control their upper body & core while performing quick movements in their legs.
Are You the Parent of a Cedar Park Athlete? Our Speed Training is Just What Your Child Needs
At Barbell Coalition we offer a world-class, professional training experience for youth athletes who are chasing their full potential as an athlete.
And we do it without breaking the bank.
Come check us out! Click here to book a free consultation and tour of our Cedar Park facility.
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