How to improve speed 12-13 year girls?

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If at 12-13 a parent is astute enough (most aren't) to realize that their kid might be too slow to even ask the original question then it probably IS a moot point. By 15 it will likely be painfully obvious that their kid is just too slow. If that in fact ends up to be the case what that parent will also realize by then is the only chance their kid will have at making a high school roster is if they send their kid a small enough high school where the coach doesn't have much depth to pull from. There is just no way around it, soccer is a game which requires speed and if the player doesn't have any foot skill is going to make up the difference. That's just the way it is.

Don't listen to the know-it-all windbags. Sound like she went from very fast to middling and is still small. As I posted early, speed is not a "natural" gift. 6-10 40s, three times a week, ten weeks. If your daughter does this with enthusiasm she will increase her speed by .2 to .3 which is significant. Back to near the top and when the growth spurt kicks in even higher. Time now and then after and please let us know the difference. My kid did this and increased her speed by .3.

[Unregistered]

Don't listen to the know-it-all windbags. Sound like she went from very fast to middling and is still small. As I posted early, speed is not a "natural" gift. 6-10 40s, three times a week, ten weeks. If your daughter does this with enthusiasm she will increase her speed by .2 to .3 which is significant. Back to near the top and when the growth spurt kicks in even higher. Time now and then after and please let us know the difference. My kid did this and increased her speed by .3.

Love these desperate parents. What's the kid 4'9", 4'10" now and the pediatrician projects to end up 5'2"5'3". This size kid has be lightening fast and be willing to switch from the glory striker position back to defense to have any hope of making a college roster. What the desperate parents don't know is this happens every year. It's a well worn pattern in club soccer. This parent's tiny daughter was probably running circles around everyone at U11 so everyone just assumed that she was going to make the national team. Now at U13 she ain't so fast any more and is just tiny. These are the early bloomers that the clubs eat up and spit out. They use them to suck the other players on to a team knowing full well what is in store and then get rid of them as soon as the next good looking player comes along. Buyer beware.

[Unregistered]

Love these desperate parents. What's the kid 4'9", 4'10" now and the pediatrician projects to end up 5'2"5'3". This size kid has be lightening fast and be willing to switch from the glory striker position back to defense to have any hope of making a college roster. What the desperate parents don't know is this happens every year. It's a well worn pattern in club soccer. This parent's tiny daughter was probably running circles around everyone at U11 so everyone just assumed that she was going to make the national team. Now at U13 she ain't so fast any more and is just tiny. These are the early bloomers that the clubs eat up and spit out. They use them to suck the other players on to a team knowing full well what is in store and then get rid of them as soon as the next good looking player comes along. Buyer beware.

So you came back to town all jacked up and ready to throw down with some hearty insulting for the next few days straight. Get the popcorn ready is right.

[Unregistered]

Love these desperate parents. What's the kid 4'9", 4'10" now and the pediatrician projects to end up 5'2"5'3". This size kid has be lightening fast and be willing to switch from the glory striker position back to defense to have any hope of making a college roster. What the desperate parents don't know is this happens every year. It's a well worn pattern in club soccer. This parent's tiny daughter was probably running circles around everyone at U11 so everyone just assumed that she was going to make the national team. Now at U13 she ain't so fast any more and is just tiny. These are the early bloomers that the clubs eat up and spit out. They use them to suck the other players on to a team knowing full well what is in store and then get rid of them as soon as the next good looking player comes along. Buyer beware.

This degree of rage, especially based on wild speculation, is totally bizarre. You really do need to seek some kind of treatment.

[Unregistered]

Don't listen to the know-it-all windbags. Sound like she went from very fast to middling and is still small. As I posted early, speed is not a "natural" gift. 6-10 40s, three times a week, ten weeks. If your daughter does this with enthusiasm she will increase her speed by .2 to .3 which is significant. Back to near the top and when the growth spurt kicks in even higher. Time now and then after and please let us know the difference. My kid did this and increased her speed by .3.

This is great advice, thanks! Any thoughts about core development?

[Unregistered]

This is great advice, thanks! Any thoughts about core development?

For lower body, you might have her start using a plyometric box. Quickness and burst can be at least as important as sheer speed over distance. Plyo work can yield noticeable results within a few weeks--but should be done in moderation, especially in season.

There's an online video series of Tobin Heath doing plyo drills. Your kid can look at what she does--and cut it down by at least half.

[Unregistered]

For lower body, you might have her start using a plyometric box. Quickness and burst can be at least as important as sheer speed over distance. Plyo work can yield noticeable results within a few weeks--but should be done in moderation, especially in season.

There's an online video series of Tobin Heath doing plyo drills. Your kid can look at what she does--and cut it down by at least half.

Plyo's?? Aren't we talking about a 12 year old girl? Plyo's need to be properly supervised otherwise the kid can get hurt and there is plenty of advice out there saying that 12 is too early to start doing them. The above type of advice is what feeds the machine. No doubt given by a muscle bound S&C coach who routinely tries to convince parents that he can perform miracles. Buyer beware.

If you really want to improve speed at that age, work on their form. Go watch a few Youtube videos and then take them down to the local high school and work on it with them. You doing that will actually do more (in a lot different ways) than paying some private coach $50 an hour to do plyo's.

[Unregistered]

Plyo's?? Aren't we talking about a 12 year old girl? Plyo's need to be properly supervised otherwise the kid can get hurt and there is plenty of advice out there saying that 12 is too early to start doing them. The above type of advice is what feeds the machine. No doubt given by a muscle bound S&C coach who routinely tries to convince parents that he can perform miracles. Buyer beware.

If you really want to improve speed at that age, work on their form. Go watch a few Youtube videos and then take them down to the local high school and work on it with them. You doing that will actually do more (in a lot different ways) than paying some private coach $50 an hour to do plyo's.

No idea why people engage in absurdly wild speculation.

I'm not a strength and conditioning coach. I'm not muscle bound. I don't believe in miracles. I'm selling nothing. I'm just a former, fairly accomplished athlete, as well as a parent who's highly educated and tries to stay informed.

I don't think doing some moderate plyos at 13 (which is in the headline, though it seems you're desperate to create alarm) is dangerous or requires some special supervision. You prefer to believe that improved running form, in athletes whose form is probably pretty good already, can produce very dramatic results in soccer. Good luck with that.

Anyway, the Heath plyo videos are online for free. I'll assume the OP is reasonably intelligent and can make up his or her own mind about what is worth trying. Of course, improved running form can only help--so you're right to that extent.

[Unregistered]

Speed is one of those inherent gifts. You either have it or you don't...
What you are seeing now is the relative lack of muscular size compared to girls who are more developed muscularly. More fast twitch = more speed. Its genetically determined....

[Unregistered]

Speed is one of those inherent gifts. You either have it or you don't...
What you are seeing now is the relative lack of muscular size compared to girls who are more developed muscularly. More fast twitch = more speed. Its genetically determined....

Most of who lack speed are usually not in a true top physical shape to compete with those who are considered fast. The "either you have it or you don't" can be applied to most average people but there are many exceptions for those who strive for more. How does one person go from a couch to 5k to half and full marathons?... Hard work, dedication and desire.
The craziness is that the discussion is for a young kid who wants to get faster or is it the parent who wants this? Kids typically just want to have fun and you should only foster speed training if the kid is pushing themselves on their own time, otherwise just let them enjoy the game and stop hovering over them.

[Unregistered]

Most of who lack speed are usually not in a true top physical shape to compete with those who are considered fast. The "either you have it or you don't" can be applied to most average people but there are many exceptions for those who strive for more. How does one person go from a couch to 5k to half and full marathons?... Hard work, dedication and desire.
The craziness is that the discussion is for a young kid who wants to get faster or is it the parent who wants this? Kids typically just want to have fun and you should only foster speed training if the kid is pushing themselves on their own time, otherwise just let them enjoy the game and stop hovering over them.

Been working with kids for decades. Have seen a lot of dedicated ones who will do the type of work you speak but rarely have I seen it in someone as young as 12-13. Whenever I have come across one that was working that hard at that age it was usually at the parents insistence.

[Unregistered]

and it is those parents conflating their own journey of going from couch to 5 k. That has nothing to do with sprint or velocity.

Speed is determined by fast twitch muscles, which in turn are uniquely attributable to one's own inherent imprint. Their ability to be developed depend on resistance training and maturation.

So if you are lucky enough to have Carmelita Jeter as a mom, then your chances of markedly increasing speed are higher.

Everyone else will be mediocre at best and all the pushing and prodding and over training will get you no where.

Let the kid play the game, and relax..

[Unregistered]

and it is those parents conflating their own journey of going from couch to 5 k. That has nothing to do with sprint or velocity.

Speed is determined by fast twitch muscles, which in turn are uniquely attributable to one's own inherent imprint. Their ability to be developed depend on resistance training and maturation.

So if you are lucky enough to have Carmelita Jeter as a mom, then your chances of markedly increasing speed are higher.

Everyone else will be mediocre at best and all the pushing and prodding and over training will get you no where.

Let the kid play the game, and relax..

You don't know what you are talking about at all. One hour a week (3 x 20 minutes) proper training can increase sprint speed. If you had ever trained with a professional coach you would know this. Please keep the quack advice to yourself.

[Unregistered]

You don't know what you are talking about at all. One hour a week (3 x 20 minutes) proper training can increase sprint speed. If you had ever trained with a professional coach you would know this. Please keep the quack advice to yourself.

You are right that anyone can train to be faster, but being Fast requires some DNA

[Unregistered]

One hour a week of 20 minutes will do nothing to increase your speed. It will increase your endurance. But that's not your goal, Dad.

Speed is increased with anaerobic training. Think 40 yard repeats top end. Repeats.

Go back to that couch to 5k training, or golf, Dad.....