The Key to Game-Changing Speed: Acceleration - Cedar Park/Leander Athlete Training

If you’ve ever watched your child lose a race to the ball by just a step… or struggle to explode off the line… you’ve seen firsthand how important acceleration is.

Most parents think of speed as “how fast my kid can run,” but in nearly every sport—football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, basketball—it’s not top-end speed that matters most…

It’s the ability to get up to speed faster than everyone else.

And that’s called acceleration.

Why Acceleration Is More Important Than Top-End Speed

In youth sports, most sprints are short bursts—5 to 10 yards. Rarely does an athlete get the chance to reach full speed. Instead, games are won and lost in those first few steps.

Acceleration is the difference between being “almost there” and making the play.

Whether it’s a soccer player beating their opponent to the ball, a baseball player getting a better jump off the bag, or a volleyball player closing the gap to dig a ball—those first few steps matter more than raw speed.

What Controls Acceleration? (It’s Not Just Sprinting More)

Here’s where most parents (and even coaches) get it wrong: they assume if a kid wants to get faster, they just need to run more sprints.

But speed is a skill. And acceleration is heavily influenced by strength.

Specifically:

• Lower body strength (especially in the glutes, hamstrings, and quads) helps an athlete produce more force into the ground

• Core strength improves posture and stability during explosive starts

• Eccentric strength (controlling motion) helps them decelerate and reaccelerate faster during change of direction

  
  

In short: the stronger your athlete is, the more power they can generate—and the quicker they can move.

Why Strength Training Boosts Acceleration

Let’s keep it simple: sprinting = force + direction.

The stronger your athlete is relative to their body weight, the more force they can produce in less time. That’s what acceleration is all about.

Think of strength training as the engine upgrade.

Without it, your athlete’s running form and effort can only take them so far. With it, they develop the horsepower to actually move faster from the start.

That’s why our athletes don’t just sprint—they train to sprint better.

We use:

• Trap bar deadlifts to build raw lower body power

• Jump variations and med ball throws to convert strength into speed

• Core stability training to keep mechanics tight under pressure

What Age Should Athletes Start Strength Training for Speed?

Many parents worry that strength training is too intense for younger athletes. The truth is: when done properly, strength training is one of the safest, most beneficial tools for athletes of all ages.

In our program, we meet athletes where they are, focusing first on movement quality, bodyweight strength, and control.

As they progress, we introduce loaded exercises that safely build the foundation for speed and power.

Cedar Park/Leander Parents: Our Training Will Boost Your Athlete's Speed

If you want to help your child truly get faster—and stay ahead of the competition—it’s not just about running more sprints.

We specialize in bringing Cedar Park & Leander athletes to the next level with focused, expert training, both for speed & strength.

And we guarantee we can make your child a better athlete too.

Click here to learn more.