If you’re a parent looking to help your child get faster, stronger, or more confident in their sport, you’ve probably seen a lot of intense-looking drills on social media.
Kids sprinting with sleds, jumping through endless ladders, or doing high-resistance training that looks more like something designed for NFL athletes than for a 10-year-old.
Here’s the truth:
Most of that stuff doesn’t actually work the way people think it does.
And sometimes, it can even slow your child’s progress—or increase their risk of injury.
Training That Looks Impressive Isn’t Always Effective
Let’s take a common example: weighted sled sprints.
At first glance, they look like a great way to build explosive power. But when done with too much load, especially for kids, they can actually reinforce poor running mechanics.
According to Bill Parisi, founder of the Parisi Speed School (one of the most trusted youth speed development systems in the world), sled loads should never exceed 10% of a child’s bodyweight. For a 100 lb athlete, that means 10 lbs max.
Why? Because speed is a skill, not just an effort.
As Parisi puts it:
“If you load a bad pattern, you’re just reinforcing poor movement.”
That’s why we take a different approach at The Well. We focus on teaching proper mechanics first—building good habits before adding intensity. It’s not about what looks cool. It’s about what actually improves performance long-term.
The Fundamentals Make the Biggest Difference
The best training tools for young athletes aren’t expensive or complicated. In fact, they’re often simple drills that focus on coordination, posture, and body awareness. These include:
- Wall drills to teach proper sprinting angles
- Skipping patterns to build rhythm and timing
- Short starts to improve acceleration and reaction time
- Jumps and landing drills to develop power and control
These kinds of exercises may look basic, but they build the foundation for athletic performance—skills that translate across all sports and support long-term growth.
We follow these exact principles in our youth training sessions at The Well. It’s part of our commitment to quality over flash.
Strength Training for Kids: Safe, Smart, and Essential
Another common myth we hear from parents: “Isn’t strength training unsafe for kids?”
The answer: Not when it’s done right.
According to the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), supervised strength training is not only safe—it actually helps reduce injury risk, improve coordination, and build lifelong confidence.
Our youth strength sessions don’t look like powerlifting meets. They’re focused on:
- Learning foundational patterns: squats, lunges, pushes, pulls
- Building core strength and balance
- Using light weights, bands, or bodyweight under professional supervision
- Teaching control, consistency, and confidence
It’s not about lifting heavy—it’s about learning to move well.
What Should Parents Look for in a Quality Program?
Not all youth training is created equal. Here’s what we believe truly matters:
✅ Proper technique comes before intensity
✅ Coaches explain the why behind each drill
✅ The workouts are age-appropriate and progress gradually
✅ Programs emphasize skill development, not just sweat
✅ The goal is long-term growth—not short-term exhaustion
If your child is being pushed through workouts that look intense but lack instruction or individualized coaching, that’s a red flag.
Good youth programs should help athletes move better, feel better, and enjoy the process.
Final Thoughts from Coach Sam
At The Well, our job isn’t just to make kids tired—it’s to help them improve.
We want to build better athletes, but more importantly, we want to build strong, confident kids who enjoy training and feel proud of their progress.
That starts with education, great coaching, and a commitment to long-term development.
If you’re ready to help your child move better, get stronger, and train in a positive, professional environment—we’re here for you.
Reach out today and ask about our Youth Performance Program. We’ll help you find the right starting point for your child’s age, goals, and personality.