Speed coaching for academy footballers — and the ones trying to get there
Getting scouted is one thing. Earning a place, passing the physical testing, and surviving each season's retain-or-release decision is another. Speed is the most measurable quality in that whole process — and the most coachable.
Book academy prep Ask a questionWho this is for
- Players aiming to get scouted into a pro youth academy
- Current academy players who've been told pace is the gap in their game
- Players preparing for physical testing days — timed sprints, agility tests
- Released players rebuilding for a second chance at another club
How we support academy players
Test-day numbers
Academies time 10m, 20m and 30m sprints. We train exactly those distances and track your splits so there are no surprises on testing day.
Acceleration that transfers
First 5–10 metre mechanics — the sprints that decide duels, presses and runs in behind.
Speed maintenance in-season
Short, low-fatigue sessions that top up speed without compromising club training.
An edge nobody else has
Almost no academy player gets individual sprint coaching. The ones who do stand out on every timed run.
£80 with head coach Allan Smith · blocks and in-season plans available
Frequently asked questions
Will this clash with academy training?
No — we schedule around your club load and keep sessions short and high-quality. Speed work done properly adds very little fatigue.
My child isn't in an academy yet. Where do we start?
Start with a sprint analysis session to baseline their times, then a focused block. Pace is consistently one of the first things scouts note.
Do you work with released players?
Yes. Release decisions are often physical rather than technical — a measurable improvement in speed changes the conversation at your next trial.
Train the quality scouts can measure
Individual sprint coaching at Meadowbank Sports Centre, scheduled around your club commitments.
Book academy prep