If you are involved in the strength & conditioning field I’m sure you have noticed all the speed camps being held all across the US. Most of these camps claim they can take young, high school athletes and make them faster in a matter of hours or days. I do believe that some kids do need help with running mechanics and could improve their speed with a little coaching. However, I do not believe that any significant changes could be made in a few hours. The biggest problem I have with these camps are the claims that are made. A very well known strength coach in NC told a story to one of my colleagues about testing the kids that come to his speed camps. For the initial speed test they basically tell the kid to step up to the line and run while they time. No coaching, no set position, just go. Lots of kids will even do a small backstep as they take off. When they test them the final time every aspect must be perfect before the kid can run. They time them again, guess what, 1-2 seconds faster. Must be magic, right!! It’s like comparing two different things, yet they are still claiming these huge increases in speed. That kind of comparison is just plain wrong!! (If they can do that in only a few hours just think how fast your kid will be after they complete the entire $500 -eight session class!!!) Can you say B.S.!!!! Yet parents & kids everywhere are buying into the “fad.”
What happened to getting stronger! Squats, deadlifts, hill sprints, etc. Good old fashion strength training! Get off the stability balls, dyna discs or what ever unstable surface your “former NFL player” coach has you on and lift some freakin’ heavy weights. Stop training like you’re in the circus & pump some iron.Being able to apply more force into the ground is how you really get faster. It’s not fancy, it’s not a fad, it just requires hard work & determination!
NuFF SAID!!
May 26, 2008 at 5:12 pm |
Thats what I’m talking about