Created a foundations of speed presentation for a conference and received great feedback. Took some time but I’ve created this full presentation + 4 pdf resources to help coaches implement. It’s live and my first dive into a product like this. Check it out here: hansenathletics.com/presenta…

More games won't automatically make your athlete better. Games test skills. Training builds them. Rest locks them in. If every weekend is a tournament, protect at least one true off day a week. Development needs recovery too. #YouthSports

The SALTY DOGS are your 2026 @IdahoStateU intramural champions. Feeling grateful for other athletes willing to show up and compete, a healthy body that can still perform at a high level, and the blessing of sharing a field and getting to compete with my little brother If we were a little closer in age we would have been a problem on the field together. Champs. Now back to the lab, trying to peak next year at 35 and continue being a coach that leads from the front 📈 #buildingstrongerhumans #flagfootball #speedkills

NIL and roster limits are changing recruiting. What hasn't changed: coaches recruit athletes who are fast, strong, coachable and eligible. Keep your grades up, keep your film honest, and keep getting better. That's still the best recruiting plan there is.

🚦Cones of Chaos🚦 This is a great game to get the competitive juices flowing before a solid change of direction and lower body training session. Athletes have a BLAST while working on reaction, acceleration and deceleration. I also love the amount of time they get in a lowered hip position and the angles it creates for the ankles/feet. Setup: Each athlete has their own “base” which starts with one cone in it. You can have 1-2 cones in the middle that are free to grab. The more cones, the easier it is to win. If an athlete gets 3 cones in their base at any point they win and they can achieve this by the free cones that start in the middle or stealing from another players base. 📥 save this one and use in your next training session.

“My kid just isn’t fast.” Speed is a skill. You can coach sprint mechanics, force production, and acceleration. Most kids have never been taught how to run. That’s the opportunity.

Parents of young female athletes: ACL injuries aren’t just bad luck. Research consistently shows that landing, deceleration, and strength training significantly cut injury risk. 1-2x of carefully planned strength + speed development sessions weekly will set your athlete up for continued success.

There's a term going around I love: "playspan." How many years does a kid stay active, healthy, and confident in sport? Most kids don't quit because they lack talent. They quit because it stopped being fun, they got hurt, or they burned out. The fix isn't less effort. It's better effort: run, jump, throw, cut, land, and play more than one sport while you're young. Kids mature at different rates. The best 11-year-old isn't always the best 17-year-old. Be patient with late bloomers. Build in rest. Bodies grow and adapt during recovery, not just during training. Coach for the long game.

Burnout in youth athletes shows up before kids can name it. Watch for: Dreading practice Sleep Changes Irritability Declining Performance Loss of Enjoyment Sport should add value to a kid's life. When it starts becoming a negative, something has to change.

Recovery is training. Treat it that way. Every professional team in every major sport builds mandatory rest days into the schedule. College programs do the same. That's not a coincidence; that's physiology. Your youth athlete isn't above the math. One full rest day per week is a minimum. No exceptions.

“Lifting will stunt my kid’s growth.” No. There is no good evidence for that. Properly coached strength training makes young athletes faster, more resilient, and less likely to get injured. The real risk is sending them into competition without it.

Potentially the simplest and most effective game for athletes is “create space” It’s the difference maker in sport and you can add unlimited constraints, rules or challenges to keep it fresh. Save this variation and try it out at your next session 👊🏼 #buildingstrongerhumans #athletedevelopment #speeddevelopment #youthathlete #trainingtips