"Who cares if someone thinks it's 'soft' if it's right?"

Coaches discuss the importance of individualizing training intensity rather than pushing every athlete to their absolute limit.

How hard should training be? It's a simple question. The answer isn't. During Live Call 6 of our Team Speed Coach Certification, the conversation turned to an idea many coaches wrestle with: Should every athlete be pushed to their limit? Or should training reflect the athlete in front of you? An experienced veteran with years of training behind them may thrive on brutal gym sessions. A rookie preparing for their first professional season may need something completely different. The objective isn't to prove how hard your programme is. The objective is to prepare the athlete for the demands they're about to face. As Team Speed host - Meg Young puts it in this clip: "Who cares if someone thinks it's 'soft' if it's right?" That's one of the hardest parts of coaching—having the confidence to program for the athlete, rather than for the opinions of others. This discussion came from Live Call 6 of our Team Speed Coach Certification. Cohort 2 opens for registration soon and begins in October 2026. ➡️ Register your interest: loom.ly/cZIwGjA