PREPARE • PERFORM • PREVAIL
Understanding Athletic Speed & The Nervous System
Coach Will Performance Education Series
Most athletes think speed only comes from muscles.
That is NOT completely true.
Speed also comes from the:
Your body moves through electrical signals sent from the brain to the muscles.
The faster and more efficiently those signals work…
the faster YOU move.
That means:
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WHAT MAKES AN ATHLETE “FAST”?
Fast athletes are not always the strongest athletes.
Fast athletes usually have:
Elite athletes train BOTH:
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THE BRAIN → MUSCLE CONNECTION
The process works like this:
Brain → Nervous System → Muscle → Movement
The better this system works:
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HOW WE TRAIN THIS SYSTEM
1. Explosive Training
Purpose:
Teach the body to produce force QUICKLY.
Examples:
Why it matters:
Explosive exercises teach the nervous system to fire muscles rapidly.
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2. Repetition & Skill Work
Purpose:
Make movement automatic and efficient.
Examples:
Why it matters:
The nervous system learns through repetition.
The more correct repetitions performed:
“Neurons that fire together wire together.”
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3. Reaction Training
Purpose:
Improve decision making and response speed.
Examples:
Why it matters:
Sports happen fast.
The athlete who:
usually performs better.
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4. Strength Training
Purpose:
Build force production and nervous system recruitment.
Examples:
Why it matters:
Strength training improves:
A stronger athlete can usually produce force faster.
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5. Recovery & Sleep
Purpose:
Allow the nervous system to recover and adapt.
Why it matters:
Poor sleep slows:
Recovery is part of training.
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6. Nutrition & Hydration
Purpose:
Fuel the nervous system and muscles properly.
Important nutrients include:
Why it matters:
The nervous system depends on proper hydration and nutrition to function efficiently.
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WHAT WE ARE REALLY TRAINING
We are not only training:
We are also training:
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FINAL MESSAGE
Great athletes do not simply move faster.
Great athletes:
Speed is not just physical.
Speed is neurological.