Summer Speed Academy
11 sessions of expert sprint coaching for youth athletes aged 10–16. Learn the mechanics. Measure the gains. Come back in September faster.
- 28 July – 1 September
- Tuesdays & Thursdays
- Truro Cricket Club
- Ages 10–16
Full 11-session course • Session 1 sold out • Session 2 (10–11am) now open
SESSION AVAILABILITY
Session 1 Is Gone.
Session 2 Is Open Now.
The Summer Speed Academy sells out every year — and this year is no different. Session 1 filled before we even finished promoting it. Session 2 is now open, but spaces are limited. If your child is serious about coming back in September faster, stronger and more confident on the pitch or track, now is the time to book.
PROGRAMME DETAILS
Everything You Need To Know
Why Speed?
Speed Is the Underpinning Quality in Every Sport
Whether your child plays football, rugby, netball, hockey, runs track or competes in cross country — speed is the one physical quality that underpins all of it. The athlete who gets there first wins the ball. The athlete who accelerates out of a turn takes the race. The athlete who decelerates and changes direction efficiently stays injury-free.
Most young athletes practise their sport. Very few are ever coached on how to actually move faster. That is exactly what the Summer Speed Academy does. We break down the postures, the positions, the mechanics — and we coach them. Every single session.
What Happens Each Session
Coached. Structured. Progressive.
Every session follows the same progressive structure — starting broad and general, then getting increasingly specific as the session builds. By the end of each session, athletes are working on the exact mechanics that transfer directly into their sport.
-
1
MOBILITY & MOVEMENT WARM-UP
We open every session with a general mobility and movement competency warm-up — opening up all the key areas of the body, working on coordination, and developing the movement qualities and skills that underpin everything that follows.
-
2
ACCELERATION & TOP SPEED MECHANICS
We break down the postures and positions for both acceleration and top speed. Where should the body be? What should the hips be doing? What is the correct shin angle? Where does the foot land? These are the details that separate athletes who are fast from athletes who are coached to be fast.
-
3
SPRINT DRILLS & SPECIFIC MECHANICS
Targeted drills that reinforce the mechanics covered in step two — shin angle, foot landing, hip position, body position, deceleration, and change of direction. Each drill is coached, not just performed. Athletes understand why they are doing what they are doing.
-
4
MAXIMAL SPEED — RACES, COMPETITION & TIMING GATES
Learning the postures and positions is only half the job. The other half is exposing yourself to running at maximal speed — because that is the only way the mechanics actually stick. We create that intent through races and paired competition, so athletes are genuinely pushing to go as fast as they can. We also use electronic timing gates to measure acceleration and top speed across the course, giving athletes a clear, visible record of the improvements they are making from session to session.
YOUR COACHES
Led By Coaches Who Have Done This For Over a Decade
The Summer Speed Academy is run by Sam Guy and Rob Smaldon — the same coaches behind Cornwall High Performance and Child to Champion. Between them, they have spent over a decade coaching young athletes across Cornwall, from complete beginners to professional-level performers.
Rob Smaldon
Rob co-founded Cornwall High Performance in 2014 and Child to Champion in 2017. He brings a wealth of experience working with youth athletes across a wide range of sports — from recreational level right through to athletes competing at national and professional level.
Sam Guy
Sam has been coaching youth athletes in Cornwall since 2014. His background in strength & conditioning and long-term athlete development means every session is built on evidence-based principles, delivered in a way that young athletes actually respond to.
Cornwall High Performance was founded in 2014. Child to Champion — our year-round youth S&C programme — launched in 2017. In that time, we have coached thousands of young athletes in Cornwall, from recreational sport all the way through to professional contracts. The Summer Speed Academy has run every year since we launched it, and it fills every single time.
Athlete Success
What Consistent Coaching Produces
Speed development does not happen overnight — but with the right coaching environment and consistent work, the results speak for themselves.
BEN'S STORY
Ben joined Child to Champion at 12 years old. Tall, gangly, and struggling with coordination — exactly the kind of athlete who benefits most from structured coaching. Four years later, he competed at the National Championships in the 200m, 300m and shot put. Cornwall Schools champion. South West Regionals 4th place.
Ben did not get there by accident. He got there because he turned up, did the work, and had coaches who knew exactly how to develop a young athlete over the long term. Speed was a huge part of that journey.
GEORGE, FINN & RORY
Three rugby players. Three professional contracts. George, Finn and Rory all came through our programme, and speed was central to every one of their journeys. In rugby, the ability to accelerate out of contact, beat a defender in open space, or get to a breakdown a split second faster can be the difference between playing at the top level and not.
We worked on their mechanics, their acceleration postures, their top speed — the same things we coach in every Speed Academy session. The work transfers directly onto the pitch. These three are proof of that.
What Parents Say
Trusted By Families Across Cornwall
-
The coaches here are incredible and have helped my son feel confident in himself as well as helping him achieve his goals for stamina, strength, speed and any other needs... read more
Samantha Drew
January 11, 2026My son, who is 12 now and has been in the C2C programme for over a year, is serious about his football. Sam and his team at C2C have been... read more
Marina Watkins
January 11, 2026My son has been training with Rob, Sam and Ollie for a couple of years now. The thought and science that goes into their training programmes for the youth atheletes... read more
Rob Poulter
July 23, 2024 -
All 3 of my boys (15, 13, 11) are in the Child to Champion Youth Athlete Development Programme. As a parent, I was looking for a fitness programme that would... read more
Rebecca Priest
July 2, 2024The team At CHP/ Child to Champion have been amazing. Our son started 18 months ago as a very gangly, tall 12 year old who struggled to do a press... read more
Helen Knight
June 12, 2024Rob, Ollie and Sam are a fantastic team! Their knowledge and experience and manner has really helped our teens to work towards achieving their goals in their chosen sport. Would... read more
Rebecca Frankiss
June 3, 2024 -
Very professional while being completely approachable. Our boy’s always enjoy their sessions and have both asked to increase the number of sessions they attend each week.
James Foote
June 3, 2024My daughter gained more knowledge from working with Rob, Sam and Ollie. They were able to support her with her sport and targeted her programme to develop her strength. Great... read more
Rachel Pritcharf
May 28, 2024They are brilliant , dedicated coaches who bring out the best in young aspiring athletes.
Stuart Newman
January 16, 2024
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. The Summer Speed Academy is designed for youth athletes of all abilities. We start from the fundamentals and build from there. Whether your child is just starting out in sport or already competing at county level, they will get a huge amount from these sessions.
Speed is the underpinning physical quality in almost every sport. The academy is ideal for football, rugby, netball, hockey, athletics, cross country, basketball, tennis, cricket — any sport where moving faster gives your child an advantage. If your child plays sport, this is for them.
The Summer Speed Academy is open to youth athletes aged 10 to 16. All sessions are designed with this age group in mind and are delivered in a safe, positive, and high-energy environment.
Sessions are held on grass, so trainers are fine — but all-round weather spikes or boots are ideal if your child has them. Cornwall weather being what it is, we ask everyone to come prepared for all fronts. That means a light waterproof jacket for the rain, sun cream and appropriate clothing for when the sun comes out (and it usually does), and a good water bottle throughout. As long as your child is dressed for the conditions and ready to work, we will take care of the rest.
All sessions take place at Truro Cricket Club. Full address and parking details will be sent to you upon booking.
The Speed Academy is sold as a full 11-session course at £209, and we always recommend the full programme for the best results — the progression across all 11 sessions is where the real gains happen. If your child cannot commit to the full course or you would like to discuss pricing for individual sessions, please get in touch with us directly and we will do our best to help. Call Rob on 07947 766848, Sam on 07540 491013, or email cornwallhighperformance@gmail.com.
Yes. Child to Champion — our year-round youth strength & conditioning programme — runs 51 weeks a year in Truro and Exeter. Many athletes who come through the Speed Academy go on to join CTC and continue their development throughout the year. You can find out more at cornwallhighperformance.co.uk/child-to-champion.
Limited Spaces Remaining
Ready to Book?
Session 2 Is Open Now.
Session 1 is sold out. Session 2 has limited spaces. If you want your child to come back in September faster, more confident, and ahead of the competition — secure their place today.
£209
Full 11-session course • 28 July – 1 September 2026 • Truro Cricket Club