Why Strength Training Makes Athletes Faster

Why Strength Training Makes Athletes Faster

From Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic by Barbell Logic

April 14, 2026 · 36 min

About this episode

This episode discusses how strength training enhances athletic speed and performance compared to agility drills.

Does strength training actually make athletes faster? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson break down why strength training makes athletes faster and more powerful than agility drills alone. They discuss new research comparing strength training to sprint, plyometric, and "functional" training—and why the results continue to point to the same conclusion. This episode explains the simple science behind athletic performance: muscles move bones, force production drives speed, and getting stronger is the most trainable way to improve sports performance. If you're an athlete, parent, or coach wondering how to train more effectively, this conversation connects the dots between strength, speed, and real-world athletic performance. What You'll Learn In This Episode Why strength training makes athletes faster and more explosive The difference between force production and rate of force development Why agility drills alone can't maximize athletic performance The biggest misconceptions about lifting for young athletes How strength training improves sport practice and recovery Why simple, hard, effective training continues to outperform complicated programs PS…

People in this episode

Hosts: Niki Sims, Andrew Jackson

Topics covered

  • strength training
  • athletic performance
  • force production
  • agility drills
  • youth athletes

Keywords

  • strength training
  • athletes
  • speed
  • force production
  • agility drills
  • performance
  • youth athletes

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Barbell Logic

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