There are so many speed training programs on the market that it can be very difficult to sort through them all and figure out exactly which one will best suit your needs. So in this article, I will go over the top 6 components that every speed training program must have if you are going to be satisfied with it. This list is based on my experience as a former Division 1 sprinter, an award winning speed coach and owner of pretty much every speed training product on the market.

1. PROOF
Any speed training program worth it’s salt must be able to prove that it can get results within the sales copy that describes and promotes the product. With the internet, anyone off the street can claim to be a speed expert so you have to make sure that their information and knowledge is worth paying your hard earned money for. There are two primary examples of proof that you should look for: specific examples of how athletes have improved their fastest times and testimonials from satisfied customers. Ideally, look for a combination of the two where a satisfied customer gives a specific example of how they (or their team) improved using that particular program. Only the most dishonest people would make up testimonials. So when you see programs that have pictures of people, video testimonials, names of schools and training facilities, cities, states and countries that is a sign that certainly increases the likelihood of those testimonials being from real people. Of course, the more testimonials that there are on a product site, the more likely that the program really works.

2. DEPTH
How comprehensive is the program? True speed development is requires much more than a list of drills and exercises. The warm up, speed drills, conditioning, agility, coordination, core training, strength work and power development are just a few of the elements that go into a well rounded and effective speed training program. Does the product you are looking at cover all (or any) of these elements? If not, you are likely to just get a laundry list of speed drills that, while they may work, give you no real understanding of when, where and why they should be added to your current training program. Make sure that any program you purchase gives you all the pieces to the training puzzle, not just one or two.

3. STRUCTURE
This is related to the previous topic. How is the program structured? Is there an easy to understand rhyme and reason to the set up of the product or is it a bunch of random concepts thrown together haphazardly? Regardless of the sport you coach, you need a program that is going to give you results and make your life easier. It should show you exactly what to do, when to do it and how to teach it. Just as importantly, it should progress from easy/basic drills and concepts to more difficult/advanced techniques. This way, you will know exactly how and where to modify different parts of your training program to fit the specific needs of your athletes. A valuable program should make you feel like it is doing the work for you.

4. GUARANTEE
Most people are at least a little bit hesitant to purchase anything over the internet. I know that I am at times. People also want to make sure they’re getting an appropriate return on their investment. After all, in this day and age, few people can afford to just throw their money out the window. So when deciding which speed training program to purchase, make sure it has some sort of specific guarantee attached to it in case you don’t like the program or it doesn’t work for you. A reputable business will stand by their products and services and give you the opportunity to return your program without jumping through a series of flaming hoops. Look for a guarantee that will refund your total purchase, yet still give you enough time to try the program out. It’s tough to really tell if a program works if you only have 30 days from the date of purchase to test it out. A quality product will give you at least 6 – 12 months to give you ample time to use the program to its fullest.

5. VIDEO?
In this day and age I can’t imagine why anyone would purchase a speed training program that wasn’t on video. It’s one thing if you are interested in learning training theory or periodization. But if you are searching for a practical speed development resource that you can actively apply to real athletes, make sure it is on video. Taking it a step further, make sure it is on DVD. This is the 21st Century and let’s be honest, they don’t even make VCRs anymore. It is nearly impossible to get a full understanding of how to properly perform or teach speed and agility drills or movements unless you can watch them done correctly on DVD. I don’t care whose program it is, if it is a book or Ebook you’re not going to be able to apply it to real life situations with easily and with a clear understanding.

6. GADGETS
In this case I’m talking about fancy equipment. Unless you work with athletes that are competing at the elite, professional levels, there is little need to spend your money on complex speed training equipment. Young athletes already have so many technical, form and strength related issues holding them back that trying to solve those problems with chutes and sleds is putting the cart before the horse. There are a few programs out there that hook you with their program, then sneak up and make you buy several expensive pieces of equipment in order to fully use their program. It’s crafty from a business stand point but entirely unnecessary for you. I’m not saying that there’s no place for speed training equipment in training because I do use them with some athletes. However, it’s better served for breaking through training plateaus that come long after athletes have mastered other foundational concepts.

By using these 6 tips as the benchmark for your search for a quality speed training program, you are almost guaranteed to narrow down the list to find what you are looking for.