Why is my child fit but still slow?

More running doesn't always make someone faster

This is one of the most common misconceptions we see. A young athlete is slow, so the answer becomes: 'Run more.'

But to accelerate quickly, the athlete needs to produce force quickly and apply it efficiently. Endurance training doesn't automatically teach that.

Sometimes the athlete is leaking speed

An athlete may be trying incredibly hard but moving inefficiently. Poor positioning. Coordination. Foot contact. Running mechanics. Movement through the hips or trunk. All can affect how efficiently the body turns effort into speed.

Sometimes the missing piece is physical

Another athlete may simply need more strength or power. Another may have gone through a growth spurt and suddenly look less coordinated. This is why we don't like guessing.

A lesson behind ASP

Part of the reason ASP was created was because of the old-school idea that if you wanted to improve, you simply did more. More sessions. More running. More volume.

But adding volume to poor movement doesn't necessarily solve the underlying issue. Sometimes it simply gives the body more opportunities to repeat it. That is why our approach starts with understanding the athlete.

What does this mean for your child?

If they are fit but still slow, don't automatically add more running. Find out why they are slow. Then work on the right thing.