Does speed in childhood predict future speed?
Dear parents and sport coaches, you might be wondering if your child’s sprinting performance at ages 6, 7, 8, 9 (fastest time from point A to point B) will translate into future (teenage/adolescence) speed later on….Below is a summary of insights into this question:
What Early Speed Testing ‘Might’ Indicate:
Coordination & Motor Skills: Kids who test faster at ages 5-8 often show more advanced coordination, balance, and rhythm.
Neurological Efficiency: High performers may have more refined neural patterns for movement.
Relative Maturity: Early developers may be temporarily ahead due to more advanced physical growth.
Why It’s Not a Strong Predictor:
Biological Maturity Varies Widely: Some kids are early bloomers; others are late bloomers. The fastest kid at 7 may be average at 15, and vice versa.
Training History: Exposure to structured physical activity varies greatly — some 7-year-olds have years of movement skill practice, others do not.
Growth Spurts Disrupt Coordination: Speed can temporarily plateau or regress during adolescence due to rapid changes in limb length and body mass.
Psychosocial Factors: Confidence, motivation, and enjoyment of sport play huge roles in long-term development.
What Predicts Speed Potential Better?
Trend Over Time: Repeated measures between ages 7–14 showing consistent relative performance or rate of improvement.
Movement Quality: Mechanics, motor control, and general athleticism (e.g., jumping, skipping, decelerating, cutting, lateral movements ability).
Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Especially relevant after age 10 as strength training can start safely.
Parental Height / Genetics: Long femurs, high tendon stiffness, etc., start to matter more after age 11–12.
Bottom Line
Speed test results at ages 6-12 (ish) are a snapshot, not a forecast. They can guide fun, age-appropriate development programs, but should never be used to select or exclude kids from sport or training pathways.
In my opinion, to be frank - they should never be done. Speed training and ‘testing’ with children should exclusively involve games, tag, racing, relays and sport situations.
If you're testing young athletes, it’s best used to:
Benchmark their own progress over time.
Guide programming around fundamental movement skills.
Help identify kids who may enjoy or thrive in speed-dominant activities.
Unlock their potential by creating a fun environment where kids voluntarily seek new challenges and experiences - this is where the magic happens!
