💪 How Strength Equals Speed

📰 COLLEGIATE ELITES WEEKLY

Issue 031 — January 13, 2026

Every athlete has been here. You’re competing, and the difference is obvious. One athlete is moving with ease. The other is chasing.

So you want to get faster.
You want more quickness.
More explosiveness.
More separation when it matters.

Speed work helps. No question.

But one of the fastest ways to unlock speed is often overlooked.

Strength.

Not just how much you can lift.
But how well you can control force, apply it quickly, and repeat it under pressure.

💥  HOW TO TELL IF YOUR STRENGTH IS LIMITING YOUR SPEED

Ask yourself these questions during training or competition:

• Can you maintain clean form through the entire rep?

• Does the movement feel natural or forced?

• Can you get into the correct position on demand?

• Can you execute with intensity while staying in control?

• Can you repeat the movement consistently, rep after rep?

If any of these feel difficult or inconsistent, strength may be the missing link.

🏋️‍♀️ WHAT KIND OF STRENGTH TRANSFERS TO SPEED

This is where most athletes get it wrong.

The goal is not just max strength.
The goal is explosive strength you can access on demand.

In competition, speed happens fast.
You don’t get a practice rep.
You don’t get time to think.

You need to be able to produce force quickly, control it, and do it again.

That means your weight room work should reflect how you perform on the field.

⚡️ HOW YOUR TRAINING SHOULD LOOK

Movement should be:

• Dynamic

• Explosive

• Controlled

• Intentional

This is where plyometrics and functional strength matter.

Instead of chasing heavy weight for slow reps, try this:

• Slightly lighter loads

• Faster intent

• Clean positions

• Full control

Then layer it into a complex.
For example:

• Explosive squats

• Directly into box hops

• Staying sharp, athletic, and reactive

🏎️ WHY THIS WORKS

This type of training teaches your body to:

• Apply force quickly

• Maintain posture and mechanics

• Repeat high-quality reps under fatigue

That’s speed.

Train strength the right way and speed becomes the byproduct.

🎯 FINAL THOUGHT

If you want to run faster, move quicker, and react sooner, don’t just train speed.

Build the kind of strength that shows up when it counts.

That’s how progress sticks.

Be Elite.

✅ TAKE ACTION

📍 In Seattle?

Come train with us in person at the Collegiate Elites weight room.
Get hands-on coaching, structured training, and the same environment our college athletes trust to stay sharp. 👉

🌐 Not local?
Train with a former college athlete — online or in your area. 👉