❓What is "speed"❓

Simply put, speed is the rate at which someone is able to move. It is calculated by dividing the time it takes to cover a distance by the distance covered. As such we all have some form of "speed" relative to our own capabilities. Understandably, it stands to reason that "speed" varies from one person to the next.

❓So....if we all have speed....then why are some kids faster than others❓

This is largely due to genetics. Some kids are just imbued with more fast twitch muscle fibers than others. Which means their central nervous system fires at a faster rate when their brain tells their muscles and bones  to "sprint". The "fast" kids have never done anything to be fast, they just lucked out on the genetic lottery with efficient and rapid body movement.

THAT BEING SAID, SPEED IS A SKILL THAT CAN BE IMPROVED

❓How do kids improve their speed❓

ATTEND OUR SPEED CLINICS!   SERIOUSLY! However, in order for anyone to get faster they have to do activities that demand they move at the fastest rate possible. Meaning they have to sprint - all out - over a short distance (anywhere between 5 - 40 yards). This is called the "Rule of Specificity". It's something we all know quite well. For example, we usually see a huge improvement from our kids at the end of a particular season because they were doing those specific activities over the course of 6-10 weeks of the season.

❓How long does it take to improve one's own speed❓

It largely depends. Think of speed like a plant. It's often said that "Speed grows like a tree!"  But to get a tree to grow you have to do the right things, frequently, to help it grow. I have seen marked improvement in a kids speed after about 5-7 speed sessions (each session is 1hr long each). Unfortunately 1-2 session just doesn't get a kid there.

Yours in Speed⚡️⚡️

The Law of Specificity applies to all sports and it states that if you want an athlete to get better at something, you need to make them do that thing over and over and over again. Over time, the athlete will improve at the specific action they were repeating over and over again.

Examples of the law of specificity in action include:

• throwing a ball, 

• catching a ball,

• hitting a ball,

• shooting a ball.

It's fairly obvious that more frequently an athlete repeats a particular action the better they get at that action. Unfortunately, speed is typically ignored by most youth and high school coaches (which can be its own post). As such, most kids are almost never exposed to the necessary activities that improve speed. Which impacts their speed development over the course of their athletic careers.

Here at MVSC our primary goal is to teach athletes how to sprint faster and move more efficiently. And we do this the same way every other sport does it: the Law of Specificity. We do simple sprint activities over and over again and as a result our athletes get faster!

Yours in Speed⚡️⚡️