Some Kids are just ‘Born Slow’:from Coach Jimmy Lamour with Lamour Training Systems

Some Kids are just born Slow
from Coach Jimmy Lamour with Lamour Training Systems

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard this. Yes, they are athletes that have the genetics to be high level sprinters, but even they are coached throughout their lives. Although, you may not be able to take a slow athlete and make him Usain Bolt you can make him faster. Oftentimes, when you hear a coach say that they are essence saying they have run out of resources to make them faster. This is the reason that we created our company is to provide an avenue to improve untapped speed in each athlete. I like to use the analogy of a car as a car that is not tuned up with a quality will have problems maximizing their speed. I have listed some areas that need to be fine tune increase your speed.

1. Sprint Mechanics -Proper mechanics will ensure you use less energy while sprinting which means you will get to where you are going faster. The athletes must learn proper posture, foot strike, and arm swing. There are drills that reinforce these mechanics, which must be practiced. The key is to have a coach that ensures you are corrected when the mechanics are off. It is much easier to engrain proper mechanics between the ages of 8-12 as bad mechanics have usually not had time to be engrained in the nervous system.

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2. Lower Body Fat- You will be hard pressed to find a fast sprinter that carries a high body fast. Muscle moves faster than fat. This means that athletes have to follow a diet that is comprised of quality foods such as proteins, carbs, and fats. The best strategy in the grocery store would be to stay on the outside aisles. Also, have a plan and create a food journal. You will not improve what you are unwilling to measure.
3. Strength- There is a certain amount of strength that will be needed to sprint faster. How much is needed will be highly individual. The hamstrings, Glutes, lower back, etc…must be well developed. This is your engine. Also, your weight routine must be progressive. The biggest mistake HS athletes make is they try to lift too heavy too fast and end up missing reps. That will be a recipe for not growing…stick to the script to make slow progress.

4. Force production- Learn to put force into the ground quickly and with a lot of power. Sprinting will reinforce that, Med Ball Drills, Olympic Lifting, Plyometrics, etc…The formula is finding what is right for each individual athlete. Everyone progresses differently and may need different abilities modified.

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5. Mobility- There are certain joints that will need to be able to move properly in order to get in the right position for certain sprints. We have many athletes in our program that suffer from anterior pelvic tilt. We address that after every training session. This is much better than screaming at an athlete to get in a positon that there body will not allow them to.

6. Mindset- You have to develop a mindset to win every day you are training. You are your greatest hurdle at times. There will not be anyone with you eating and ensuring you do what it takes when you are alone. I only know one way to renew your mind and that is through scripture.

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Hope you enjoyed this series. If you have any questions you would like me to discuss further or any article ideas feel free to ask. I am constantly learning as this field evolves, but the athletes being impacted are worth it.

Jimmy Lamour is a former Guilford College in Greensboro, NC All South Defensive Back. He set the record for interception return yards at the school. Upon Graduation, he tested numerous philosophies on strength and speed through seminars, self-study, conversation with renowned strength coaches, and training of hundreds of athletes. This led him to develop the 4.30 40 Speed System a system that helped him improve his 40 yard dash from a 4.66 to a 4.30, which gave way to many professional football workouts. He later developed Lamour Training Systems with the help of his lovely wife Charlene to help athletes improve their performance and receive knowledge he missed out on as a child. He continues to consult with several division 1, prep schools, and high school coaches. LTS has helped many football athletes play at the D1, D2, and D3 levels. He believes that his passion to see young men become all God intended them to be and provide knowledge of the defensive back position which will allow young athletes under the tutelage of Pick 6 Academy to flourish. He is currently certified as a Youth Fitness specialist, 7on7 Performance Director, and High School Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Also, Coach Lamour is a devout Christian. He has two children Camdon (19) and Micah (12).Sign up for his newsletter to receive his free speed report at http://fastyouthathlete.blogspot.com/ on For more information, call 336-257-9151