Wow, this study will definitely cause some controversy! 

From personal experience, all I know from the speed and accelderation training I had my sons (and now my grandson) in is that over timeduring their high school (and college) years, their speed and agility improved .  (acdcording to the stop watch).  I believe it even helped them get college soccer scholarships.  And now my grandson is also improving times in speed and agility drills as a high schooler.  Wondering now if it is more age related than training?

And, also wondering if that was all a waste of time and money?  Or, if the study is big/thorough enough to qualify as something to give too much credibility to?  Or, perhaps the colleges placed more emphasis on size and strength and less on speed given this was a football study?

Agree L.C.  Still think the sample size and SINGLE sport aspect of the study makes it suspect for ALL athletes.  Also, by the time kids are college age they may have basically reached full speed and acceleration maturity.  We never seem get too old to put on a few more pounds though!

I think most would agree there are those teachable aspects to speed and acceleration that can make ones fast twitch fibres work to their maximum which they might not do without training.

Just an interesting concept...any kinestheologists out there?

I don't think so .....we regularly use strength and agility coaches with our athletes of jr  high and high school ages. The fundamentals of movement are not innate and do not get picked up easily by some kids. By getting your kids in with an expert that teaches some fundamentals of movement and body mechanics they will maximize the potential of what speed they have.  If they are very good they will also teach the stability and deceleration techniques and footwork that will keep them form being injured. Speed does not kill but sudden deceleration does.


I ahve watched many agility and speed workouts and read extensively on the subject. This guy has bounced back and forth from Indiana to New York training folks. Lee is one of the best I have ever seen and gets every ounce of speed out of a kid. leetaft.com/speed-academy/ , much more so than the hospital based speed and agility programs we have in INdy.

I do not think there is any way you waste your money when you get your kids to tap into every bit of potential they have. It pays off on the court and off.