Speed training for youth athletes with Alan Murdoch, John Garrish and Micheál Cahill
Nov 9, 2023
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This week on the podcast, three guests with extensive experience in speed training for youth athletes discuss the differences in training youth athletes compared to adults. They share tips for coaching large groups and dive into specific drills for youth athletes. The importance of cues, communication, and engagement in speed training is also discussed. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights and advice for coaches working with youth athletes.
When coaching speed for youth athletes, prioritize fun and engagement, using analogies and visual aids to teach technical concepts.
Working with large groups of youth athletes requires filming sessions, using constraint-based drills, and incorporating locomotive plyometrics for effective training.
Making speed training fun and enjoyable for youth athletes is essential; games provide opportunities for maximal effort and improvement without negative associations of traditional conditioning methods.
Deep dives
Key Differences in Coaching Speed for Youth Athletes vs. Adults
When coaching speed for youth athletes versus adults, some fundamental principles remain the same. The focus is on acceleration and upright running, optimizing force production, minimizing braking forces, and maintaining good posture. However, delivering the coaching is where the differences come in. With youth athletes, it's important to prioritize fun and engagement, using analogies, metaphors, and visual aids to teach technical concepts. Valuing technical change and the athlete's engagement in it is more important than pure performance measures. Inspiring and instilling education in kids is crucial to keep them engaged and coming back for more.
Managing Large Groups in Speed Training for Youth Athletes
Working with large groups of youth athletes requires special considerations. Filming sessions and reviewing footage off the field can be valuable for observation and technical assessment. Using motor learning principles, introducing constraint-based drills, and incorporating locomotive plyometrics like galloping, skipping, and bounding can create an engaging and effective training environment. Emphasizing the importance of sound feedback, like the rhythm of movements, and using competition, races, or timing to challenge athletes can further enhance their speed training experience.
Introducing Games in Speed Training for Youth Athletes
Making speed training fun and enjoyable for youth athletes is essential. Games like Sharks and Minnows can serve as warm-ups and energy system development activities. Games provide opportunities for maximal effort, engagement, and improvement without the negative associations of traditional conditioning methods. By focusing on creating a positive and enjoyable training environment, coaches can enhance motivation, effort, and performance in youth athletes.
The importance of game-like drills in speed training for youth athletes
Engaging youth athletes in game-like drills can bridge the gap between isolated speed training and real-game scenarios. By introducing game-based activities that focus on decision-making and varied movements, coaches can help athletes transfer their speed improvements into actual sports performance. This approach, known as the Grey Zone, helps athletes develop attentional reserve and adapt their technical skills to the chaotic and combative nature of sports. By incorporating games into training sessions, coaches can make speed training more enjoyable, effective, and applicable to real-game situations.
The role of resisted sprints in youth speed training
Resisted sprints, when used as a tool alongside other training methods, can improve initial acceleration and optimize force application in sprinting. However, it is crucial to utilize resisted sprints as a supplement, not a replacement, to un-resisted sprinting and traditional strength training. Coaches should treat resisted sprints as horizontal strength training exercises and focus on optimizing foot strike, forward lean, and the direction of force application. It is important to coach and tailor the load for each athlete, ensuring the sled or resistance used enhances the sprint mechanics rather than causing maladaptations. Resisted sprints should be included in the transition phase between turf work and strength training, providing a bridge for improving initial acceleration before focusing on max velocity.
This week on the Pacey Performance Podcast, Rob is joined by three amazing guests, all with incredible amounts of experience developing speed with youth athletes.
Alan Murdoch, John Garrish and Micheál Cahill kick off this episode with one of the key questions and one that is talked about a lot, what are the differences when training speed with youth athletes versus adult athletes. Should we be as strict with our technical models? Do we even need technical models? Alan shares his experiences with us and gives us a great place to kick off this conversation.
We look into the tips and tricks to coach these key positions so you can implement the information tomorrow with your athletes. Another common scenario working with all athletes but especially youth athletes is that they are normally coming to us in large groups. But how do we maximise their time and get the biggest learning and training effect that we can? John shares exactly how he does this with his students at North Broward Preparatory School.
In the second half of the episode we dive into the weeds and discuss the exact drills to use with youth athletes. What has worked for these three guys and maybe more importantly, what hasn't. Micheál dives deep into the world of resisted speed training, explaining how they can used as a teaching and coaching tool as well as a training tool. We finish off this conversation with some questions that we put to these three guys on social media.
If you're working with youth athletes and want to maximise your time and their energy, check out this episode with Alan Murdoch, John Garrish and Micheál Cahill.
Main talking points:
What the key differences are when training youth athletes speed
How to coach speed with large groups
Tips and tricks to coach the key sprint positions
Key drills to use with young athletes
Using resisted speed training for teaching and coaching
How to introduce games to speed training with youth athletes
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