If your athlete is getting beat to the ball, losing a step off the line, or watching recruiting opportunities slip away because of a slow 40-yard dash, speed training built on real biomechanics – not generic drills – is what changes the outcome. Youth, high school, and collegiate athletes across the San Fernando Valley face the same core speed challenges: poor acceleration in the first ten yards, inefficient ground contact, and stride mechanics that cost them tenths of a second they can’t afford to lose. Performance Lab of California delivers a proven, assessment-driven speed training system from its Van Nuys facility that has helped hundreds of athletes get measurably faster for football, soccer, basketball, baseball, track, and many sports beyond.
Why San Fernando Valley Athletes Trust Performance Lab of California
- Operating since 2014 – over a decade of continuous sports performance training in Los Angeles County
- Hundreds of athletes trained across youth through college levels, both in-person and through online coaching programs
- Founder credentialed in biomechanics – Morey Croson holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with emphasis in Biomechanics, and has personally run a 4.4-second 40-yard dash at 22+ mph top speed
- 100% money-back guarantee on the “Faster 40 in 90 Days” program – if your athlete doesn’t improve, you pay nothing
- Laser timing and 18 motion capture cameras – no guesswork, every speed improvement is verified with precision technology
Why San Fernando Valley Chooses Performance Lab for Speed Training
The San Fernando Valley features specialized sports performance training facilities, but what separates Performance Lab is a commitment to measuring what matters before prescribing a single drill. Many athletes come in doing the same cone work and ladder drills they’ve been doing since middle school – and wondering why their speed hasn’t changed. Performance Lab starts where the real gains begin: at the biomechanical level.
- Biomechanical assessment first, training second – using proprietary motion capture cameras and algorithms that measure torque output at individual joints without force plates, coaches identify the exact joint-level weaknesses and imbalances limiting your athlete’s explosive speed. Biomechanical assessments identify key areas for performance improvement and enhance movement capabilities for athletes.
- Sport specific speed, not generic fitness – training programs are tailored to the athlete’s sport, position, and season demands, and some athletes pair this work with personal training for more individualized support around their goals. A football cornerback’s acceleration needs are different from a soccer midfielder’s repeated sprint demands or a baseball player’s first-step quickness. Training plans are built around the athlete’s sport and season.
- Injury prevention built into every program – by assessing movement patterns, joint torque, and asymmetries, Performance Lab reduces injury risk through neuromuscular training that keeps young athletes healthy and available for competition. Proper biomechanics can reduce injury risk in young athletes, and injury prevention is crucial for athletes as young as middle school.
- Immediate visual feedback – high-frame-rate video capture and kinematic tools like ONFORM let athletes see their running form errors in real time and make corrections on the spot, accelerating the learning curve
Our Speed Training Services
Performance Lab serves individual athletes and teams at all skill levels – from youth athletes taking their first steps toward athletic development to collegiate athletes preparing for combines and pre season showcases. Here’s what SFV athletes come looking for.
Linear Speed Development
The 40-yard dash remains one of the primary speed benchmarks in American sports, especially at high school combines and recruitment evaluations. Linear speed development at Performance Lab targets every phase of the sprint: the start position, the drive phase (0–10 yards), the transition to upright mechanics, and top-end speed through 40 yards and beyond.
Speed training improves acceleration and top-end speed. Research shows youth athletes can achieve 5–10% improvements in short sprint times over 6–9 weeks with structured programs of 2–5 sessions per week. One published case study documented a 15-year-old football player improving his 40-yard dash from 4.92 to 4.58 seconds – a 0.34-second drop over 14 months of consistent, 4-day-per-week training. Performance Lab’s own athletes have reported dropping 0.5 seconds from their 40-yard dash in just 6 weeks through their speed training program.
Speed training programs can guarantee faster 40-yard dash times in 90 days.
Sport-Specific Speed Training
Every sport demands a different kind of speed. Performance Lab builds customized training programs that reflect position-specific requirements:
- Football: Linemen need short-burst power; wide receivers and cornerbacks need acceleration and top speed; quarterbacks need pocket mobility and scramble speed
- Soccer: Repeated sprint ability, change-of-direction speed, and the endurance to maintain quickness across 90 minutes
- Basketball: Lateral agility, open-court sprint speed, and vertical jump power
- Baseball: Reaction speed, first-step quickness, and base-running acceleration
- Track: Start mechanics, stride optimization, and top speed development
- Water polo, tennis training, and other sports: Sport-specific movement patterns adapted for the demands of competition
Many training programs prioritize sport-specific training because athletes perform best when their speed work mirrors the actual movement demands of their game. Personalized coaching programs are tailored to individual athletic needs, ensuring each athlete develops the exact speed qualities their sport requires.
Agility and Change of Direction
Game speed isn’t just about running in a straight line. Programs include agility training for change-of-direction skills – cutting, braking, reaccelerating, and reacting to unpredictable stimuli. A 2026 meta-analysis published in Nature found that speed and agility training significantly improves change-of-direction speed (effect size ~0.71) and linear sprint times (~0.90) in athletes aged 9–26.
Performance Lab’s speed and agility training addresses pre-planned cutting drills, reactive agility exercises, and multi-directional movement patterns that translate directly to game situations. Stronger body control, coordination, and quickness under fatigue give athletes the competitive edge when it matters most. Performance testing measures sprint speed and agility improvements so progress is never a guess.
How Our Speed Training Process Works
From your first contact to verified speed improvements, here’s exactly what to expect.
Step 1: Biomechanical Speed Assessment
Every program begins with a comprehensive biomechanical assessment at the Van Nuys facility. Using 18 motion capture cameras and proprietary algorithms, coaches capture torque output at individual joints, analyze stride mechanics through high-frame-rate video, and screen movement patterns including hip flexion/extension, ankle dorsiflexion, and core stability. Video analysis is used to correct biomechanics during assessments, and assessments help address chronic pain and improve running form.
Laser timing gates establish precise baseline split times at 10-meter, 20-meter, and 40-yard distances – eliminating the 0.1–0.2 second error margin common with hand timing. Athletes receive a complete breakdown of their strengths and weaknesses, including force-velocity profiling that determines whether they’re force-deficient (needing more horizontal power at acceleration) or velocity-deficient (needing more ability to sustain top speed). The assessment takes approximately 30 minutes, and athletes leave with a clear picture of what’s limiting their speed. Sign up for your free assessment here.
Step 2: Customized Speed Training Program
Based on assessment results, Performance Lab designs a program targeting the athlete’s specific deficits. Customized training programs cater to athletes of all skill levels. The program integrates:
- Acceleration mechanics – starting position, reaction training, and drive-phase technique for the critical first 10 yards
- Max velocity work – optimizing stride length versus frequency to reach and sustain top speed
- Strength training – heavy resistance work (>80% 1RM) for horizontal force production, plyometrics for power, and eccentric loading for injury prevention. Strength training improves muscle power and overall athleticism, and strength training benefits all athletes regardless of sport.
- Core strength and stability – the foundation of efficient force transfer from ground contact through hip extension
- Mobility and corrective work – addressing asymmetries identified during assessment to reduce injury risk and improve physical preparedness
Training frequency typically ranges from 2–5 sessions per week depending on the athlete’s season (off season, pre season, or in-season), competition schedule, and recovery capacity. Both private training and group training options are available, including personal training for athletes who need one-on-one coaching around specific performance goals. One-on-one training enhances speed, technique, and overall performance, while group training can supplement individual performance coaching. Summer Speed Lab runs from July 6 to July 29, 2026, for athletes looking to develop during their off season.
Step 3: Progress Testing and Refinement
Every 4–6 weeks, athletes undergo retesting with laser timing and video analysis to measure exact improvement in sprint splits and overall athletic performance. Athletes receive personalized feedback to improve their performance. Coaches adjust the program based on progress – shifting focus from acceleration to top-end speed, increasing load, or refining technique as the athlete advances. This data-driven cycle continues through the athlete’s season and beyond, building toward long-term athletic development rather than short-term fixes.
Speed Training Results
Concrete, measurable speed improvement is the standard – not the exception. Here’s what the evidence shows:
- 40-yard dash improvement: Athletes in structured speed programs typically improve 0.1–0.5 seconds over 6–12 weeks, depending on starting level, training frequency, and commitment. Bigger changes (0.3–0.4 seconds) require months of consistent work with a strong strength and mechanics foundation.
- Short sprint acceleration: Research on U19 soccer players showed 9–10% improvement in 5-meter sprint times and 6–8.5% improvement in 10-meter times over just 6 weeks of focused sprint training.
- Rapid gains with targeted methods: A case study involving high school athletes showed a 1.5% reduction in 40-yard dash time after only 3 weeks when flywheel lower-body work was added to their resistance program.
- Client-reported results: A Performance Lab athlete reported dropping 0.5 seconds from his 40-yard dash in just 6 weeks through the Speed School program.
- Repeated sprint and agility gains: Meta-analyses show repeated sprint training in youth athletes produces significant improvements in 10-meter sprint times (effect size ~1.01) and change-of-direction speed (effect size ~0.60).
Athletes can start speed training around ages 7–9, with training methods adapted to developmental stage. Athletes can start strength training around ages 7–9, and strength training reduces injury risk for young athletes. Customized strength training programs enhance athletic performance at every level, helping each person become a better athlete.
What Our San Fernando Valley Athletes Say
Performance Lab has trained hundreds of athletes from across the San Fernando Valley and beyond. Athletes and parents consistently highlight measurable speed gains, improved confidence on the field, and the detail of coaching that makes the difference between a sports academy experience and a truly personalized development program.
Athletes receive personalized feedback to improve their performance, and many athletes report that the biomechanical approach helped them understand their mechanics for the first time – giving them both the technique and the confidence to compete at the highest level.
Genuine testimonials from local athletes with specific speed improvements, school or team affiliations, and competitive results should be featured here.
San Fernando Valley Areas We Serve
Performance Lab of California is located at 17400 Hamlin Street, Van Nuys, CA 91406, open approximately 7 AM–8 PM on weekdays with weekend hours available. Athletes from across the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles area train at the facility, including residents of:
- Van Nuys
- Sherman Oaks
- Studio City
- North Hollywood
- Valley Glen
- Encino
- Tarzana
- Woodland Hills
- Reseda
- Northridge
- Granada Hills
- North Hills
- Panorama City
Mobile coaching services deliver training directly to athletes in various locations, and online speed programs extend Performance Lab’s reach to athletes throughout Los Angeles County and beyond. The Speed School online tiers (Basic, Advanced, Professional) include video libraries, sprint analysis, and virtual coaching for athletes who can’t train in person. This is a great place for athletes at all ages and development stages who are interested in reaching their potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much faster will my 40-yard dash get?
Most athletes see improvement of 0.1–0.5 seconds over 6–12 weeks with consistent training. The exact amount depends on starting speed, age, training frequency, and how significant the underlying biomechanical deficits are. Athletes with clear mechanical inefficiencies – poor start position, excessive ground contact time, weak hip extension – often see the largest initial gains. Research supports that structured programs of 2–5 sessions per week over 6–9 weeks reliably produce measurable sprint time drops. Longer commitments of 3–6 months tend to produce the most dramatic results.
What ages do you train for speed development?
Athletes can start speed training around ages 7–9, with programs adapted by developmental stage. Younger athletes (under 12–14) focus on fundamental movement patterns, coordination, balance, mobility, and general athleticism in a fun environment. Athletes aged 14–18 are highly responsive to speed training for real acceleration gains due to neuromuscular adaptation – this is where many athletes see their biggest improvement. Collegiate athletes and professional athletes can still improve but require more precision, recovery, and refined technique work. Customized training programs cater to athletes of all skill levels, from youth development through professional preparation.
Do you guarantee speed improvements?
Yes. Performance Lab’s “Faster 40 in 90 Days” program includes a 100% money-back guarantee – if the athlete follows the program and doesn’t see measurable improvement in their 40-yard dash time, they receive a full refund. The guarantee requires that athletes adhere to the prescribed program, complete required training sessions, and allow baseline and follow-up assessments using laser timing for accuracy. This level of confidence reflects the data-driven, biomechanical approach that consistently produces results.
How does speed training help with injury prevention?
Injury prevention is an important aspect of sports performance training. Proper movement patterns reduce injury risk in athletes by addressing the asymmetries, weaknesses, and compensation patterns that lead to hamstring pulls, joint stress, and overuse injuries. Neuromuscular training helps keep athletes healthy during sports, and customized training programs enhance injury prevention strategies. Strength and speed training supports injury prevention in athletes of all ages. This is especially critical for young athletes in the Valley who play multiple sports with limited recovery time between seasons.
Do you offer corporate wellness programs?
While Performance Lab’s primary focus is athletic speed development, corporate wellness programs improve employee health and productivity. Companies with wellness programs see a 25% reduction in healthcare costs. Wellness initiatives can increase employee engagement by 30%, and effective wellness programs can reduce absenteeism by 28%. Contact the facility to discuss team training or corporate group options.
Start Your Speed Training Today
Every tenth of a second matters – in the 40-yard dash, in the game, and in recruiting conversations. The athletes across the San Fernando Valley who are getting faster right now started with one decision: getting assessed, identifying what’s actually limiting their speed, and training with a system built on biomechanics, not guesswork. Whether you’re a youth athlete chasing your first varsity roster spot or a collegiate athlete preparing for a combine, Performance Lab of California delivers the measurable speed development and competitive edge your trainers and coaches expect to see.
Performance Lab of California · 17400 Hamlin Street, Van Nuys, CA 91406 · Book Your Free Speed Assessment
