Gym vs Speed Priority: What Comes First in Your Athlete Program?

At Athlete’s Edge Albury, every athlete’s journey starts with a simple question:

Where will your biggest performance gains come from - the gym or the field?

The answer isn’t based on preference or what’s trending online. It’s based on your sport, your performance profile, and where you are in your development. That’s why every athlete we work with begins with a testing and assessment process, so we can tailor your program around what you actually need.

Here’s how we decide where to start.

Option 1: Gym-Based Strength & Power

For some athletes, the gym is the best place to build the foundation. This is especially true if you:

• Are early in your training journey

• Lack basic movement control or coordination

• Need to develop strength, power, or tissue resilience

• Are coming back from injury

• Struggle to generate force in key movement patterns

In this case, we’ll prioritise structured gym sessions to focus on:

• Strength through fundamental patterns (squat, hinge, push, pull, brace)

• Power development through jumps, throws, and explosive lifts

• Control and mobility to support efficient movement

• Building robustness and durability for long seasons

This phase sets the groundwork for faster, safer, and more efficient movement on the field or court.

Option 2: Speed & Field-Based Training

If you already move well in the gym but can’t yet translate that strength to the field, your priority might be speed and field-based work.

This approach is ideal for athletes who:

• Are strong, but not yet fast or reactive

• Struggle with rhythm, coordination, or timing in open space

• Need to improve their sprint technique or agility

• Are returning to running after injury (return-to-play)

• Need to build confidence with speed, change of direction, or gameplay movement

In this phase, we focus on:

• Sprint mechanics and acceleration drills

• Change of direction and agility

• Plyometric progressions to improve stiffness and reactivity

• Field-specific drills tailored to your sport

• Conditioning to match your game-day demands

The field is where gym strength gets tested and refined.

The Right Environment Matters Too

Choosing the right training focus is only part of the equation. We also help you choose the best training setting for your goals and learning style.

Individual Training

Best for athletes who need extra guidance, technical support, or are working through injury.

Small Group Training

Great for athletes who are motivated by teammates, want competitive energy, and are confident with self-led work.

After your assessment, we’ll help you decide:

• Which setting fits your personality and development stage

• What program structure best supports your goals

• How to balance your training with sport, school, and recovery

It’s not just about the program, it’s about the environment that helps you succeed.

Why It All Starts With Testing

You don’t need guesswork. You need a plan that’s built for you.

Whether you're chasing explosive power for basketball, agility for netball, or top-end speed for AFL, your program starts with your current profile.

We test first. Then we program. Then we train.

And that’s why our athletes continue to get results, season after season.

Ready to Train With Purpose?

Book your athlete assessment session today and we’ll show you what’s possible when your program is built around you.
📞 Contact us now to get started

Let’s find out what your performance needs most, and go after it together.