The Speed Manual: A Complete Coaching Programme for Speed Development Across All Sports

SPEED IS NOT TRAINED. IT IS ENGINEERED. Most coaches are not lacking effort — they are lacking a system. High-volume conditioning circuits wearing a sprint vest are not speed work. They make athletes better at being tired. That is a different adaptation entirely. The Speed Manual is the field guide that closes the gap between what sports science says about speed development and what is actually being practised at club, school, and recreational level. Written by Ricardo Miranda — international 200m sprinter (Portugal), performance consultant, and engineer — it is the manual he needed and could not find when he began coaching. WHAT IS INSIDE: THE STRENGTH–POWER PROFILING SYSTEM — build an individual mechanical profile for every athlete using the force–velocity curve, Sayers peak power formula, and reactive strength index. Know exactly where each athlete sits on the spectrum and programme with precision, not guesswork. THE COMPLETE DRILL VAULT — acceleration, maximum velocity, plyometrics, agility, speed endurance, and strength exercises, each with phase-by-phase biomechanics, coaching cues, common faults, and clear progressions. 12-WEEK PROGRAMMING TEMPLATES — structured training blocks for track sprinters and team sport athletes, with deload weeks, sport-specific sessions, and youth and masters modifications built in. PERIODISATION AND LOAD MANAGEMENT — how to structure a training year, manage fatigue, and protect athlete health while building genuine speed over time. SPORT-SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS — track, rugby, football, cricket, basketball, hockey, and combat sports. The principles are universal. The application chapters show how they translate to each sport's specific demands. THIS IS NOT A COLLECTION OF DRILLS. IT IS A COMPLETE SYSTEM. Every claim is grounded in published research. Every formula is cited. And every research finding has been translated into coaching language you can use on a Monday morning with fifteen athletes and forty-five minutes. Ricardo Miranda broke his femur at seventeen, came back, and went on to represent Portugal at international level in the 200 metres. He knows what speed costs to build — and he has put everything he knows into this book. For coaches, strength and conditioning professionals, teacher-coaches, and sport practitioners who want a clear, proven pathway to developing the fastest version of every athlete. Read more