If your athlete is doing “agility drills” with cones and ladders every week, but still struggles to move explosively in games, you’re not alone. One of the biggest misconceptions in youth sports is treating speed and agility as the same skill.

“Some kids are just fast.”It’s a phrase we hear all the time from parents and coaches across Haymarket, Gainesville, Ashburn, Aldie, and South Riding. And while some athletes may start out quicker than others, true speed is built—not born.

In youth sports, speed is often the difference between good and great. But what many parents and coaches overlook is that bad running form doesn’t just slow kids down—it sets them up for injury and burnout.

In youth sports, certain physical qualities translate across all games—whether your child plays football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, or baseball. Two of the most important? Speed and jumping ability. At Command Athlete Performance, we train youth athletes across Haymarket, Gainesville, Aldie, South Riding, and Ashburn to master these two game-changers early.

Parents often ask us, “Can my kid come in for just one session?” or, “Do you run one-day speed camps?” The truth is, while clinics and camps can offer short-term excitement, they don’t lead to meaningful athletic development. Real progress—the kind that builds speed, strength, confidence, and game-day performance—requires consistency, coaching, and a long-term plan.

Parents often ask when their kids should start training for sports. The truth is, there’s a short window between ages 11 and 14 where the body is primed for speed, strength, and coordination gains that last a lifetime. Miss it—and it’s harder to catch up later.

Spend five minutes at any park, playground, or team practice, and you’ll hear the same words:“Wanna race?”It doesn’t matter if it’s football practice in Haymarket, recess in Gainesville, or a backyard game in South Riding—young kids always want to know who’s the fastest. But why? It’s not just playful energy. It’s biology. It’s psychology. And it’s deeply human.

Youth sports have evolved. Athletes today are stronger, smarter, and more explosive than ever before. Coaches at every level are looking for kids who can move with purpose—accelerate quickly, change direction on command, and recover faster than their peers.