It’s probably not effort.
It’s probably not motivation.
It’s probably not genetics.
It’s the plan.
Speed development is often misunderstood, which is why many well-meaning programs miss the mark. If you want a deeper look at how speed programs should actually be structured, we’ve covered that in How to Design a Speed Program .
A lot of programs focus on making athletes exhausted — thinking that being tired equals improvement. It doesn’t.
Running when you’re tired teaches your body to move slower, not faster. Speed improves when athletes practice moving fast while fresh, not when they’re worn down.
This is one of the biggest misconceptions we see, and it’s why we often remind parents and coaches that speed training themes are very different from conditioning themes.
Speed isn’t something kids magically “pick up” during conditioning or games. It has to be:
This structure allows the brain and body to learn how to move faster — safely and efficiently. That’s why short sprints and proper rest are a cornerstone of effective speed training, something we explain further in Why Every Athlete Needs Track Work .
Parents often assume: “If they trained harder or longer, they’d be faster.”
But speed doesn’t respond to volume the way conditioning does. Too much work:
The right amount of the right work beats more of the wrong kind every time. This idea shows up again and again in long-term athletic development — especially with growing athletes.
Strength training helps kids apply force better and stay healthier. It improves their ability to push, stop, and change direction safely.
But lifting weights alone doesn’t make someone fast. Speed training teaches the body how to use that strength quickly. They work together, but they are not the same thing.
If you want to understand how strength fits into speed development without slowing athletes down, we break that down in Design Your Lifting Program for Speed .
There’s no overnight fix. Speed development is a long-term process — and when it’s done correctly, improvements show up steadily, season after season.
When a program is working, kids:
If your child isn’t getting faster:
Instead, look at whether the program is actually designed to develop speed. Because when the plan is right, speed follows.
