Have a question for us? Use the form below, and we'll post the answer right here on this page.

The "Speed Training" page on your website says you have a "Future Stars" class for 6-9 year olds.  But, the registration page shows classes don't start until 8 years old.  Do you still do speed classes for 6 year olds? Mark, Father of six year old

Thanks for your inquiry!  Honestly, I forgot that text was still up.  Although I stand by the “Future Stars” program scientifically as a concept, reality is it is not on the schedule simply because I did not have the numbers to support keeping a separate class open.  We found that putting the younger kids in a bigger group with the older kids was better than having just one or two younger kids in a class.  They simply work harder and want to play less when with their older peers.
That being said, there are some six year olds who can handle our work outs, others who cannot.  Our concept is very similar to martial arts in that although the kids are all together, our expectations are tempered according to each child’s abilities.  At this age, my main goal is for the kids to show up, learn how to listen, work hard and never quit while at the same time have fun.  We want to build athleticism but more importantly, work ethic and confidence.  Some kids are ready for that and do great in our classes, some just want to play and do not enjoy FAST.  Not that we are all work, work, work, we end every class with a game and most kids have a blast running through the ladders and hurdles, doing the obstacle courses and drills.  It is a matter of physical and emotional maturity.
You should set up a Free Trial Session to determine if your child is ready for FAST.  After all, he’s the one who has to do the work, and that way you can observe and make the best decision for your family.  Just click on the blue button on the website.

I am aware my son is not the star athlete and I know he needs work, but there was a recent game where the score was 42-8 and he played about 90 seconds.  I know they don't have to play him, but this is disturbing.  We need some guidance, is there any advice you have?  MK, mother of 13 year old football player

Thanks for your email.  I do what I do so that I can help kids like your son get off the bench and into the game. 

The reality of our youth football system is that once practice starts coaches have very little time to actually teach kids and work with them individually to develop their skills.  Their time is very limited so they tend to spend more time with group drills and learning plays, they have little time for athletic development.  Some elements of being a football player are out of our control, such as our size.  Everything else is a skill that can be learned.  That is where I come in.

I can probably teach your son more in a couple hours than he has learned all season.  Not because I am some sort of football genius, but because I can totally devote my time to teaching him the fundamentals he needs and work on the things that will help him most.  My goal is to help kids understand the game and what it takes to become a player and this isn't usually something that can be done in an hour or two.  Most of the work a player needs has to be done in the months before practice starts, but we can definitely try a crash course and get him a bump right away.  It is always better to do something than to do nothing.

My son is a college football player at Drake University in Des Moines Iowa.  He is facing a similar issue, he's not getting to play as much as he wants either.  Reality is despite their age difference the answer is the same for both boys: focus on what you can control, do everything in your power to be the best you can be and outwork everyone else.  At that point, be ready when your opportunity comes and go make plays, cause that's all football is.  If you can make plays, no coach on the planet will leave you on the bench. 

Although there are some things a player can do on his own to bcome a better football player over the long term, for immediate results, we need to get together asap and get him on track.  Let me know what his practice and game schedule is during the week and lets get together for a free evaluation and see what we can do.

What are "The Five Rules"?

At the beginning of every class we review with the kids "The Five Rules to becoming a faster athlete" as a  reminder of why they are there and where they are going.  These rules are a part of our "Where Are You Going" leadership development concept which is summarized by the phrase "If you don't know where you are going, how are you going to get there?  They are also on the back of the FAST tee shirts.  The kids are taught weekly that these rules apply not only to FAST classes, but to practices, games, school, church and when they get older, to work.  The five rules are:

Rule #1)  Show up  --  95% of life is showing up.  Whether it is to FAST class, school, church or work, showing up -- especially when you don't feel like it -- is taking a positive step towards achieving your goals.  Always show up unless you have a fever, severe congestion or a doctor's excuse.  Always show up on time or a little early.  Always show up ready to start.  Even if you have the worst day ever, it is better to show up and have a bad work out, than to get no work out at all.  Life many times throws obstacles in our way that try to divert us from our goals.  Walking through bad times with toughness and perseverance provides rewards that cannot always be explained and the best work outs come on the days you don't really want to be there but show up anyway. 

Rule #2)  Listen  --  You cannot listen and talk at the same time, so when coach is talking, mouths are shut, ears are open, brains are focused.  Pay attention, follow directions, trust the science and you will become a faster athlete. Pay attention to your parents, your teachers, your coach, your pastor and you will become a better person.

Rule #3)  Work hard  --  You don't need to give 110% effort in FAST class, just 100%.  Execute every drill, every rep, every exercise to the very best of your ability, every time and you will become a faster athlete.  Apply this rule to school, you will become a great student.  Apply this rule to everything you do in life and you will be successful.

Rule #4)  Have fun  --  It is normal for people to stuggle when learning new physical movements.  There are movements we teach in FAST class that you have never done before and although you give 100% effort, you just can't seem to get it right.  Don't get frustrated and mad at yourself, take a deep breath and tell yourself to just have fun.  You can't learn to play guitar in an hour, but you can learn if you practice.  Don't think negatively about yourself, laugh and have fun...if you show up, listen and work hard you will learn it.  But at the same time, stay under control and don't turn having fun into silliness and horseplay...see rule #2.

Rule #5)  Never, ever quit  --    To become a faster athlete you need to understand that when things are hard for us we don't quit.  Run every sprint, do every rep of every drill all the way to the end, even if you're tired, even if you stumble or fall.  Sometimes we all trip or stumble and fall., we have to get up.  Sometimes you are so tired, your body tries to make you think you'll die.  You won't.  You'll want to walk instead of run or just stop trying your best and go sit down.  It is at that moment that you must decide what kind of person you want to be.  Being a faster athlete, becoming the person you want to be and go where you want to go is not easy or everyone would do it.  It takes dedication and guts.  Stay the course, focus on what you can control and never quit and you can do anything in life.

Rule #6)  Chuck it in the bucket  --  This means throw up in the trash can, not on the floor.  We made this an honarary rule after one of the FAST students pushed himself to his limits and actually threw up at the end of a class.  He didn't make it to the bathroom and I had to clean up the floor.  I began joking with him that I created a new rule - no throwing up on the floor, use the trash can.  The kids thought this was hilarious and brought it up every class.  Then one day one of the kids came up with chuck it in the bucket and kids being kids..it stuck as an honorary rule.  Not sure the life lesson with this one, other than don't make others clean up your mess!