How to Stay Fast During Your Season

Sep 2

3 min read

Once the season begins, many athletes stop speed training because practices and games take over their schedules. But speed is a skill—and like any other skill, it can decline when it is not trained.

The goal of in-season training is not to exhaust an athlete or interfere with competition. It is to maintain the strength, mechanics, and explosiveness developed during the offseason so athletes can perform their best when it matters most.

Why Athletes Can Lose Speed During the Season

Playing a sport does not always provide the same benefits as structured speed training. Practices often focus on plays, strategy, conditioning, and team development. While those areas are important, athletes may not receive enough focused work on acceleration, sprint mechanics, strength, or maximum speed.

As the season continues, fatigue and a busy schedule can lead to:

Slower first-step quickness
Reduced power and explosiveness
Poorer running mechanics
Decreased strength
A greater risk of overuse injuries

Without proper maintenance, an athlete may feel fast at the beginning of the season but begin losing that edge when playoffs and important games arrive.

Focus on Quality, Not Excessive Volume

In-season training should be shorter and more focused than offseason training. Athletes do not need a high volume of sprints or exhausting workouts. They need quality repetitions, proper rest, and exercises that support their competitive schedule.

For most athletes, one or two performance-training sessions per week can help maintain speed, strength, and movement quality. Every session should be adjusted around practices, games, soreness, and overall fatigue.

The goal is to leave the athlete feeling sharp—not worn down.

Continue Training the Foundations of Speed

Staying fast requires more than simply running sprints. Athletes should continue working on the key qualities that make speed possible:

Sprint mechanics: Proper posture, arm action, and foot placement help athletes move efficiently.
Acceleration: Short, explosive sprints help maintain first-step quickness.
Strength: Lower-body and core strength allow athletes to produce more force into the ground.
Power: Jumps, medicine-ball exercises, and explosive movements help athletes remain reactive.
Mobility: Healthy movement through the hips, ankles, and upper body supports proper mechanics.

Maintaining these areas helps athletes stay explosive while reducing the breakdown in movement that often comes with fatigue.

Recovery Is Part of Speed Training

Athletes cannot perform fast when their bodies are constantly tired. Sleep, hydration, nutrition, and recovery days all play an important role in maintaining speed throughout the season.

Athletes should communicate with their coaches when they feel unusually sore, heavy, or fatigued. A good in-season program can be adjusted when needed instead of forcing the same workout every week.

Consistency matters, but smart adjustments matter too.

Do Not Wait Until the Offseason

Stopping performance training completely can make it difficult for athletes to maintain the progress they worked so hard to build. When training is managed correctly, athletes can remain strong, fast, confident, and prepared throughout the entire season.

At Parisi Speed School of Bridgewater, our coaches help athletes train safely and effectively around their competitive schedules. Our in-season programs focus on maintaining speed, strength, mechanics, and confidence without adding unnecessary fatigue.

Want to help your athlete stay fast all season? Contact Parisi Speed School of Bridgewater today to schedule an evaluation and learn how our performance-training programs can support their goals.

Best,

Jerome Boyer

Parisi Program Director | Parisi Associate Master Coach (908)-809-8081

Certified Performance Coach

Parisi Speed School of Bridgewater