How much attention are you giving deceleration in your weekly training?

Les Spellman explains why deceleration and the ability to brake and absorb force deserve equal consideration in speed training.

How much attention are you giving deceleration in your weekly training? We spend considerable time developing acceleration and maximum velocity. But the ability to brake, absorb force, and redirect momentum deserves equal consideration. In this extract from the Team Speed Coach Certification, Les Spellman explains why deceleration is one of the physical qualities he prioritizes with his athletes, from NFL receivers and defensive backs to elite soccer players. The demands are significant. High-intensity braking places substantial stress on the neuromuscular system, particularly when athletes are first exposed to it. But with appropriate, progressive exposure, athletes can develop greater tolerance to those demands and improve their ability to decelerate and change direction at speed. 🎥 In the full lesson, Les takes you onto the field to demonstrate how he develops these qualities through: 🏃 Vector jumps, hops, and bounds to develop force production and absorption across different directions. 🏃 Progressive cutting drills, moving from single-step actions to higher-speed directional changes. 🏃 Three-step braking strategies, teaching athletes how to brake, plant, and separate effectively. 🏃 Practical progressions that can be integrated into team training environments. His message is clear: deceleration deserves a place alongside acceleration and maximum velocity as a physical quality we develop consistently. 🎓 This is the practical, on-field component of the Team Speed Coach Certification, developed by ALTIS in partnership with Stuart McMillan, Les Spellman, and Danny Foley. Across six months, we connect the science of speed, practical coaching application, and athlete health and readiness to help you build a complete approach to speed development in team sport. ⏳ Cohort 2 begins October 19. Just 2 days to go. Join us for the next intake. 🔗 loom.ly/u1Uvkgg