Five Tips for Improving Speed in Young Athletes
By Loren Landow and Agyei Augustine
First: Have kids skip for rhythm for 10-20 yards (a skip is a step and a hop)
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Skipping reinforces the coordinated actions between the lower and upper body so, watch and tell them how to move their arms better
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Don’t worry about anything but rhythm
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When they can skip with good form, have them skip for distance, height or speed
Second: Line them up and have them race a given distance, e.g., 20-30 yards
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Racing lets them see who is fast and how they stack up against their peers
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Teach them how to start by showing them how to put one foot forward, one foot back, and how their arms are positioned opposite their legs in the starting position
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When they understand the starting position, let them run
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Correct arm and foot position at the starting position and nothing else
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Don’t worry about body lean, etc., just let them run
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They will get faster by running all out
Third: Teach them how to stop
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Have them run 5 yards, breakdown, drop their butt, and put their hands on the ground as if fielding a ball
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Start with a jog and gradually increase speed as they develop the ability to stop under control
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This us usually all they need up to ages 9-10
Fourth: When they get older and can stop under control, teach them how to backpedal and turn to the right or left while backpedaling
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Start at slow speeds and gradually progress to moderate speeds
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When they can backpedal and turn right and left under control, teach them how to skip backwards starting at slow speeds and gradually progress to moderate speeds
Fifth: Teach them how to run backwards
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Start at slow speeds and gradually progress to moderate speeds
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When they can run backwards with good form, teach them how to turn right and left on command
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