2025-10-27 – Weekly Personal Trainer News : Unconventional tests for speed potential

Last week, our community engaged in lively exchanges on maximizing training effectiveness and professional development. Discussions ranged from integrating 1:1 sessions post-class to enhance client results, to identifying key indicators of athletic potential. Members also explored continuing education options, particularly in mobility for older adults and nutrition-driven performance, signaling a strong interest in expanding skills and knowledge.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Adding 1:1 sessions after class
Trainers are debating the benefits and logistics of offering personalized sessions following group classes to boost client outcomes.
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Your sleeper test for spotting future speed
A fascinating discussion on unconventional tests to identify athletes with untapped speed potential is gaining traction.
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Looking for dawn trail bootcamp coaches
There’s an opportunity for trainers interested in leading early-morning trail bootcamps. Learn more about what this role entails.
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Grip strength predicts late-round stamina
Explore the surprising connections between grip strength and endurance, a topic that’s sparking interest among trainers.
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Looking for solid CE on mobility training for older adults
Trainers are sharing recommendations for continuing education focused on mobility strategies for the older population.
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Best CEUs for nutrition-driven performance
A thread discussing the top CEU options to enhance understanding of nutrition’s impact on athletic performance is trending.
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Making home rehab stick between sessions
Find out effective strategies to ensure clients adhere to rehabilitation exercises at home, a frequent challenge for trainers.
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Best CEUs for self-defense coaching
For those interested in self-defense coaching, this discussion covers the best continuing education paths.
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FAQ/Guidelines
A useful reference for new and existing members on forum etiquette and guidelines.
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Admin Guide: Getting Started
A guide to help new forum admins navigate their responsibilities effectively.
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Looking forward to another week of insightful discussions. Keep sharing your experiences and knowledge.

I’ve had good luck running a 20 m build-in into a 10 m “flying 10” and timing it with a phone at 240 fps right after class. If someone repeats sub-1.00s while staying tall and landing quietly, I book a short 1:1 to lean into max velocity; if they’re noisy or overstriding, I shift them to pogo/stiffness prep first. Lasers are cleaner, but the frame-count method has been reliable enough.

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Quick example: I like a standing 5-bound for distance after warm-up — if someone clears about 14 m, they usually have the wheels for a fast flying 10, and it’s a cheap lie detector for elastic power, @LenaPT. Small caveat: enforce “no pause between bounds” and skip it for cranky Achilles or tight space to keep it honest and safe.

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I’ve had good results with a 3-step projection check: tape at about 2.5 m, 5 m, and 7.5 m from the line and see if athletes hit those marks clean without reaching; when they do and stay low through step 3, their top-end usually follows. Tiny caveat: adjust the distances by height (about 1.3x, 2.6x, 3.9x leg length) so you don’t penalize shorter runners. My cue is “chase your shins, not stride,” which keeps it honest.

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