Teaching acceleration effectively starts with clarity.
Any drill we assign to an athlete should have a clearly communicated goal, not just in words, but in the picture we help them build in their mind. When athletes understand what a movement should look like and feel like, execution improves dramatically.
That clarity becomes even more important when we’re teaching acceleration.
Teach Acceleration One Way First
Before athletes learn to accelerate in different directions or sport-specific situations, they need a clear foundation.
Acceleration should be taught one way first, with consistent language and expectations.
When cueing stays the same across drills, athletes don’t have to guess what the coach wants. They can focus on execution instead of interpretation.
The Three Things We’re Always Chasing
When I coach acceleration, I’m always looking for three things:
1. Position
We want athletes in a strong starting position, what I often describe as a torpedo position. Shoulders slightly higher than hips, feet behind the hips, and a straight power line from ear through ankle.
2. Pattern
Effective acceleration requires the right movement pattern. That includes a strong thigh split, a positive shin angle, and a cocked, locked ankle ready to strike the ground.
3. Power
Acceleration is horizontal force production. Athletes need to learn how to attack the ground aggressively and push it away with intent.
Why Consistent Language Matters
Whether an athlete is accelerating from a wall drill, a sled, or a sport-specific movement, the cues should stay the same:
- Punch the knee
- Cock and lock the ankle
- Attack the ground
- Drive the elbows
Using the same language across different tasks allows coaches to quickly identify where things break down, and athletes to self-correct more effectively.
Fewer Words, Better Results
One of the biggest mistakes coaches make is using too many cues at once. Instead, identify the biggest limiter and use a few purposeful words to elicit the desired response.
Words that evoke intent, like strike, attack, and push, help athletes apply force more aggressively. Many athletes are naturally passive in acceleration, and strong external cues help unlock better performance.
Building Better Acceleration Over Time
When coaches stay consistent in how they communicate, athletes transition more smoothly from general drills to sport-specific movements. The foundation is already there.
At Carlisle Performance, this approach is central to how we develop speed and movement efficiency.
F.A.S.T. School helps younger athletes build strong movement foundations through consistent coaching and simple, effective cueing.
And for families who want structured speed development without adding more in-person sessions, Speed Academy provides guided, on-demand speed training athletes can follow on their own schedule.
The goal stays the same: clear communication, consistent execution, and acceleration that actually transfers to sport