Here are the 10 don´ts of speed training by coach Tony Holler, the autor of the “Feed the Cats” program.
1. Don´t see speed as purely genetic and immutable. There´s a saying that God creates sprinters and coaches create milers. That´s wrong.
2. Don´t sprint without getting timed. If you ain´t getting timed, you ain´t sprinting.
3. Don´t dismiss linear speed. There´s nothing more extreme in human movement than sprinting in spikes in a straight line and getting timed.
4. Don´t forget to record, rank and publish. It is truly the food of cats.
5. Don´t speed train in a state of fatigue. If you do, you will never push the central nervous system (CNS).
6. Don´t sprint for more than 5 seconds. Anything you do more than 5 seconds is working on something other than speed.
7. Don´t view speed through a muscular lens. Try to see speed through an electrical lens. Speed is controlled by the central nervous system (CNS).
8. Don´t spend the off-season working on aerobic stuff. If you do, you´ll never get faster. Instead, stack together high level anaerobic work for an aerobic benefit.
9. Don´t ignore max velocity. Too many coaches want to work purely on acceleration. Acceleration does not improve speed, but max velocity improves acceleration.
10. Don´t burn the steak and, of course, feed the cats.
