Speed training for U12 soccer player?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone seen improvement after working with a speed coach (private or via a place like Peak Performance or HP Elite)? My son really wants to do something like this and I’m super hesitant to spend money. He’s actually pretty quick but short and I’m not sure this would have the desired result he is hoping for, which seem to be to make up for his height with increased speed.

[Anonymous]

Your instincts are correct. This should not be the focus right now. Ball mastery is. You can teach him to shield and learn tactics in order to be more crafty on the pitch. You can do some activities on your own to develop but I don’t recommend dropping money on those programs.

You can get a fee sessions to focus on technique.

[Anonymous]

There are so many better things to invest in at this age than this. I'm sure someone will take your money, but i'd wait until much later to go down this route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are so many better things to invest in at this age than this. I'm sure someone will take your money, but i'd wait until much later to go down this route.

Why would you wait much later?
When do you think this should start?

[Anonymous]

According to google: The ideal age for dedicated speed training in soccer is around the time of or just after puberty (post-growth spurt), typically between 12.5 and 13 years old and up for boys and 11 to 13 years old and up for girls, with boys often having an earlier window of trainable speed. For younger players (ages 6-12), the focus should be on developing a broad athletic base with fun, game-based activities that build coordination, balance, and movement skills, rather than structured speed training.

[Anonymous]

Top International Soccer Academies and SAQ Training:

Ages 5–8 (Foundation Phase)

Focus: Basic motor skills, coordination, balance, fun.

SAQ Training:
✅ Introduced informally through fun games and play-based drills that encourage quick movements, changes of direction, and body control.

Ages 9–12 (Late Foundation Phase)

Focus: More structured development of movement patterns, basic technique, and coordination under mild fatigue.

SAQ Training:
✅ More systematic speed and agility drills start here (e.g., ladders, cones, shuttle runs, reaction drills).
✅ Emphasis on proper technique (e.g., acceleration mechanics, deceleration control).

Ages 13–16 (Youth Development Phase)

Focus: Technical-tactical training + physical development.

SAQ Training:
✅ Regular and individualized SAQ training.
✅ Often integrated into warm-ups, main sessions, and separate physical training blocks.
✅ Use of resistance tools (parachutes, sleds, mini-hurdles), plyometric progressions.

[Anonymous]

Based on the last two posters information, if your kid is just starting speed, agility, balance, coordination and quickness training at 12 years old, they are way behind the top tier curve

If you don't care about top tier performance, then negligible

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on the last two posters information, if your kid is just starting speed, agility, balance, coordination and quickness training at 12 years old, they are way behind the top tier curve

If you don't care about top tier performance, then negligible

You’re not wrong it is just I don’t think the costs of instruction will warrant the improvements the kid wants as the OP mentioned. They can attend a class to watch the instruction but the work has to be 2-3x a week to start to produce results over time and be done is small doses.

If the kid is already quick, he may be looking for all out speed which probably means he is on a “send it” or “boot it” system which will fail the kids at U15.

[Anonymous]

Us parents tend to overthink things and forget about our younger days. I got quicker on the field due to playing basketball with my friends, I got faster due to my friends and I constantly racing each other. Think about what those two things entail and there's your recipe. Obviously genetics are a factor but because we have so many different variations of training at our kids disposal vs when we were younger it tends to make us overthink things that tend to be simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone seen improvement after working with a speed coach (private or via a place like Peak Performance or HP Elite)? My son really wants to do something like this and I’m super hesitant to spend money. He’s actually pretty quick but short and I’m not sure this would have the desired result he is hoping for, which seem to be to make up for his height with increased speed.

yes - to learn running technique - was quite valuable in fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Us parents tend to overthink things and forget about our younger days. I got quicker on the field due to playing basketball with my friends, I got faster due to my friends and I constantly racing each other. Think about what those two things entail and there's your recipe. Obviously genetics are a factor but because we have so many different variations of training at our kids disposal vs when we were younger it tends to make us overthink things that tend to be simple.

So in your opinion, what is posted above regarding what the European academies are doing from U8 onwards with experts in sports performance fields is useless nonsense and we should just let our kids play in the woods?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Us parents tend to overthink things and forget about our younger days. I got quicker on the field due to playing basketball with my friends, I got faster due to my friends and I constantly racing each other. Think about what those two things entail and there's your recipe. Obviously genetics are a factor but because we have so many different variations of training at our kids disposal vs when we were younger it tends to make us overthink things that tend to be simple.

So in your opinion, what is posted above regarding what the European academies are doing from U8 onwards with experts in sports performance fields is useless nonsense and we should just let our kids play in the woods?

Nope but if you have a 8 year old that won't subscribe to a SAQ training regimen lol, it's not the end of the world. Settle down Doogie Howser 🤣

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone seen improvement after working with a speed coach (private or via a place like Peak Performance or HP Elite)? My son really wants to do something like this and I’m super hesitant to spend money. He’s actually pretty quick but short and I’m not sure this would have the desired result he is hoping for, which seem to be to make up for his height with increased speed.

just go try for first time. every training is different and see if your son enjoys and sees benefits. also work on to see if your son can maintain that speed without losing the ball. no point of being fast if he can't keep the ball with speed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Us parents tend to overthink things and forget about our younger days. I got quicker on the field due to playing basketball with my friends, I got faster due to my friends and I constantly racing each other. Think about what those two things entail and there's your recipe. Obviously genetics are a factor but because we have so many different variations of training at our kids disposal vs when we were younger it tends to make us overthink things that tend to be simple.

So in your opinion, what is posted above regarding what the European academies are doing from U8 onwards with experts in sports performance fields is useless nonsense and we should just let our kids play in the woods?

Nope but if you have a 8 year old that won't subscribe to a SAQ training regimen lol, it's not the end of the world. Settle down Doogie Howser 🤣

The topic is about sport performance improvement. What does the end of the world have to do with it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Us parents tend to overthink things and forget about our younger days. I got quicker on the field due to playing basketball with my friends, I got faster due to my friends and I constantly racing each other. Think about what those two things entail and there's your recipe. Obviously genetics are a factor but because we have so many different variations of training at our kids disposal vs when we were younger it tends to make us overthink things that tend to be simple.

So in your opinion, what is posted above regarding what the European academies are doing from U8 onwards with experts in sports performance fields is useless nonsense and we should just let our kids play in the woods?

Nope but if you have a 8 year old that won't subscribe to a SAQ training regimen lol, it's not the end of the world. Settle down Doogie Howser 🤣

The topic is about sport performance improvement. What does the end of the world have to do with it

The OP is worried about potentially spending unnecessary money and is wondering if looking into speed training is worth it. Not doing so at a certain age isn't the end of the world 🤷🏾‍♂️