Is Speed Training Safe for Young Athletes?

Speed training when done correctly is 100% safe for all types of athletes at any level.  I’ve worked exclusively with youth athletes for over 10 years and the sooner an athlete can develop the biomechanics needed for sprinting the better.  The longer athletes spend time running incorrectly it can often take longer to break those bad habits.  I recommend getting your young athlete to sprint often beginning at the age of 5 and then begin coaching sprinting mechanics as early as age 7.  Don’t underestimate what some fun play can do to help your child’s running mechanics.  Often, some of the worse young runners I coach or those who didn’t spend enough time running when they were younger.

There are times when speed training can become unsafe, and this is usually when a coach is either progressing an athlete faster than what they are ready for, or having them use speed tools and equipment that are far too advanced.  From my experience I’ve seen much more of the latter, coaches using equipment that young athletes simply aren’t ready for.  When a young athlete’s sprinting technique is not proficient, the best method to correct them is by having them sprint.  It’s really that simple.  Using advanced training methods and equipment such as treadmills, sleds, bungees, or weighted vests can actually exacerbate poor running by making it hard for the athlete to run naturally.  Not to say these methods can be useful for more experienced sprinters, but for a young athlete the best way to improve is applying a good amount of sprinting volume and coaching good mechanics. 

Have more questions? Contact Boost Training Systems in Corona, CA